India Stands Firm On It's Opposition To China's OBOR Initiative - Lone Country To Do So At SCO

On Wednesday, India reiterated its opposition to China's 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) initiative, standing as the sole country within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to withhold its support for the connectivity project.

A joint statement, issued at the conclusion of the SCO's Council of Heads of Government meeting, which took place in Islamabad, revealed that all other member states, including Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, had expressed their endorsement of OBOR.

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The communiqué noted that Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan acknowledged the ongoing efforts to implement OBOR, including measures to link the Eurasian Economic Union with the initiative.

However, India's opposition remains steadfast, with its key objection centring on the inclusion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the project. CPEC, which traverses Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), has been a persistent geopolitical concern for India.

This is not the first occasion that India has declined to back OBOR at an SCO forum. Indian officials have also raised growing international concerns regarding the initiative, particularly over the escalating debt burden on countries that have undertaken OBOR-related projects.

In his address to the gathering, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the risks associated with such ventures. "Debt is a serious concern," he remarked, without delving into further details.

Nevertheless, Jaishankar emphasised the importance of alternative strategies, stating, "Collaborative connectivity can create new efficiencies."

The joint statement also made reference to broader efforts aimed at regional cooperation, including discussions on forming a 'Greater Eurasian Partnership.'

This potential partnership would seek to link the SCO, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and other interested countries and organisations.

The SCO leaders underscored the necessity of coordinated efforts to ensure economic and social stability across the region.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the SCO Economic Development Strategy, with the objective of achieving sustainable development by 2030.

The meeting also underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation, with members pledging to work towards implementing the relevant action plans.

The Islamabad summit was chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by high-ranking representatives, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, as well as leaders from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

(With PTI inputs)