India plays a key role in peace and stability of Afghanistan: Incoming SCO chief
Incoming chief of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Vladimir Norov said that peace and stability of Afghanistan will be a priority for him and expects that India will play an Important role in that and in the regional anti-terror structure based in Tashkent.
Vladimir Norov will take over as SCO Secretary General in January 2019 for a period of three years. He to ET on his visit to India, “Peace, stability and security of Afghanistan will be key priority for me. SCO has a contact group on Afghanistan and India is expected to play a key role through that group”.
He added, “India will also play a significant role in SCO Regional Anti- Terror Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent”.
Norov said that SCO has eight members and in Chinese culture, eight is the symbol of happiness. He mentioned that India is not a party in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) but India is a key partner in International North South Corridor and SCO will benefit from these.
He said, “While it is a fact that India was not party to the reference on BRI in SCO Summit Declaration, India endorsed the overall Declaration. SCO will also benefit from European connectivity corridors to Eurasia as well as International North South Transport Corridor of which India is a key partner”.
He expressed his happiness on participation of both India and Pakistan in joint military drills, he said, “It was also heartening to see that India and Pakistan participate in the joint military drills under the aegis of SCO”. India and Pakistan attended Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit as full members in June 2018.
