MEETING of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government (HoG) is in progress in Islamabad. Event is important, among other reasons, for being the first one of that high level and scale being hosted in Islamabad after a gap of decades. With main roads in Islamabad brightly lit and decorated, city is all set to hosting its honourable guests. SCO is a ten member intergovernmental organization with a broad mandate. Besides Pakistan, SCOs full members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. The Organization was established in 2001 as build up on the Shanghai Five Group (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) which was set up in 1996. Shanghai Five focused on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in Military field and Border issues. That was in the years following the dissolution of Soviet Union that had led to the independence of the Central Asian Republics.

In its early years, SCO focused on efforts to curb terrorism, separatism and extremism in Central Asia. Over the years its mandate massively expanded and its focus shifted to economic collaboration and cultural exchanges. The Organization aims to, inter-alia, strengthen mutual trust and good-neighbourliness; maintain peace, security and stability in the region and; increase cooperation in economy, energy and transport. Note worthy among SCOs........

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