News Story: SCO members strengthen anti-terrorist cooperation

BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) agreed to strengthen cooperation to fight terrorism, secessionism and extremism at a meeting on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by its member states -- India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- as well as delegates from the executive committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

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Think Tank: More than just about Belt and Road - does China hold territorial ambitions in Central Asia?

Connor Dilleen

During a speech at the National Press Club in August, the political leader of the Tibetan diaspora, Lobsang Sangay, speculated that China may use the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to seize territory in the same way that it used a road project in Tibet as the first step in taking control over the country.

While Sangay’s claim was likely intended to draw attention and sympathy to Tibet, it provides an interesting perspective from which to assess China’s relationship with its Central Asian neighbours and the scale of BRI investments in the region.

As noted by Geremie Barme, a former head of the ANU’s Centre for China in the World, in a rebuttal of Sangay’s comments, for China ‘Tibet was about resources, while it sees most of the rest of the world as markets’. China is investing heavily in BRI projects across Central Asia, and much of that investment is focused on exploiting local resources and developing critical transportation hubs, rather than pursuing domestic markets. Thus, Central Asia potentially fits Barme’s ‘Tibet’ characterisation rather than the ‘market’ model.

But China’s investment in Central Asia carries significant risks, and those risks give rise to questions about China’s risk calculus in Central Asia. Barme’s riposte to Sangay—which contained an interesting point on the extent of China’s imperial ambition and China’s willingness to pay the price associated with such ambition—potentially sheds some light on what China’s risk calculus may be.

News Story: SCO member countries vow to strengthen border cooperation

DALIAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) pledged here Thursday to strengthen border security cooperation to fight terrorism, secessionism and extremism.

Plans for joint border defense action this year and the work of a team of experts in 2018 were approved by the fifth meeting of the leaders of border administration authorities of SCO member states, held in northeast China's costal city of Dalian.

The meeting, chaired by China, was attended by more than 30 representatives of India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorism Agency.

The meeting decided to include the joint border defense action into a three-year cooperation program of SCO member countries to fight terrorism, secessionism and extremism.

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News Story: SCO secretary-general refutes idea pitting SCO against NATO

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is not a military alliance like NATO and the regional body has no intention to target any country, SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said here Tuesday.

In response to netizens' questions during an interview with Xinhua, Alimov said the Western hype labeling the SCO as a "future Eastern counterweight of NATO," which emerges from time to time, deliberately distorts the SCO's essence and its practical activities.

Speculations re-emerged that the SCO could be a potential antagonist of NATO following the accession of India and Pakistan into the bloc earlier this year.

The SCO has never and will never go against any country, and this has been clearly stated in the organization's basic documents, Alimov said, adding that the bloc has vastly increased its influence and prestige in international and regional affairs within a relatively short period of time, and has always been advocating peaceful development and good-neighborly relations.

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News Story: SCO secretary-general says bloc seeking to create positive atmosphere for resolving disputes between members

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has neither the authority nor the instrument to settle bilateral disputes between its members, but it will create the political atmosphere to help resolve such issues, SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said here Tuesday.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with Xinhua while answering questions collected from netizens, Alimov said disputes such as those between Indian and Pakistan should be "discussed and resolved through a bilateral format and in a friendly and constructive manner."

The SCO member states are willing to discuss issues of common interests based on equality of all members, as underlined by the Shanghai Spirit.

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News Story: Accession of India, Pakistan carries historic significance -- SCO leaders

ASTANA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) carries historic significance as India and Pakistan become full members of the bloc, SCO leaders said Friday.

Granting India and Pakistan membership at the SCO summit will boost the organization's development and potential, according to a joint press communique released after the summit in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

Founded in 2001, the SCO now has China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan as its full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia as observers, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey as dialogue partners.

The heads of state support the SCO to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with its observers and dialogue partners, the communique said.

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News Report: Security Threats Against CSTO States Aimed Against Russia as Well – Deputy PM

Security threats against CSTO member states are also considered to be threats against Russia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister said on Thursday.

BISHKEK (Sputnik) — Security threats against Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are also considered threats against Russia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday.

"We understand clearly that threats to Kyrgyzstan’s security, threats to Tajikistan’s security, to other CSTO member states are also threats aimed against Russia. They are at various reaches: far reaches, medium reaches, close reaches. That is why the issue of our cooperation, of our mutual commitments, collective actions and increase of military efficiency – both of Russian military units and bases and of national military forces of CSTO member states – is an issue of a collective response to threats that, as we can see, have no tendency to reduce," Rogozin said at the meeting of the Interstate Commission of military-economic cooperation in Bishkek.

News Story: SCO can become essential part of global security system -- Kyrgyz official

BISHKEK, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can become an essential component of the global security system in the future, says Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Emil Kaikiyev.

"To date, the SCO has become an authoritative regional organization and an example of a new type of association. In the long term, as the organization is strengthened and its geospatial framework is expanded through the admission of new members and the development of dialogue mechanisms at the international level, it can become in the future an essential component of the global security system," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The Kyrgyz official said that one of the important issues of the upcoming SCO summit in Astana will be the accession of India and Pakistan to the SCO. "The decision is historic, and the organization's members will be increased to 8 states," he said.

The SCO now covers China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The accession procedures for India and Pakistan started in 2015.

China said last week that India and Pakistan will complete the process of joining the SCO during the Astana summit, the first time for the SCO to expand membership since its founding in 2001.

Kaikiyev believes that the expansion will further strengthen cooperation in security and interstate economic interaction.

"The total territory of the SCO member countries will make 60 percent of the territory of Eurasia, and the total population of the SCO countries will be about 3 billion and 40 million people (about half of the world's population)," he added.

The Kyrgyz official also believes that two countries' accession will not change the organization's principles and goals.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: SCO to Cover Nearly Half of Global Population After India, Pakistan Join It

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will cover 60 percent of the Eurasian continent and nearly half of the global population after India and Pakistan become its members in June, according to Beijing.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — The upcoming official announcement of New Delhi’ and Islamabad’s full-fledged membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the upcoming summit in Astana will strengthen the organization's international influence and expand its the geopolitical coverage, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said Monday.

"India and Pakistan will finish the procedure of accession to the SCO and will become SCO official members at the upcoming summit. It will expand the prospects of the SCO development as well as its international influence," Li said at a special briefing dedicated to the SCO summit due to be held on June 8-9.

News Story: Chinese president's visit to Kazakhstan to boost bilateral ties, SCO development

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday that President Xi Jinping's visit to Kazakhstan this week will help to advance bilateral ties and the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

From June 7 to 10, Xi will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan, attend the 17th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State and the opening ceremony of the World Expo in Astana.

Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said at a press conference that the visit is Xi's first visit abroad since the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation held in mid-May and one of China's major diplomatic activities for Kazakhstan and Eurasia this year.

"The visit will help further improve the relationship between China and Kazakhstan as well as Eurasian countries and forge ahead the healthy and stable development of the SCO," Li said.

As China's neighbor and a comprehensive strategic partner, Kazakhstan is an important partner on the Belt and Road Initiative and international production capacity cooperation, he said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: India, Pakistan to complete process of joining SCO during upcoming Astana summit

BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday said that India and Pakistan would complete the process of joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the upcoming Astana summit.

This would be the first time for the SCO to expand membership since its founding, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing.

After that, the SCO will become the world's most populous regional cooperative organization and the largest by area, which will bring unprecedented development capacity and cooperation potential, said Hua.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Russia Hopes Iran's SCO Membership Process Starts in June - Foreign Minister & Astana Ready to Approve Iran's Application to Join SCO - Kazakh FM

Russia Hopes Iran's SCO Membership Process Starts in June - Foreign Minister

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hopes that Iran's SCO membership process would be launched in June.

ASTANA (Sputnik) — Moscow hopes that Iran's Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) membership process would be launched in June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday.

"Next in line, many have said this today, is Iran, which as you know has settled the issues related with Security Council sanctions. It now fully meets the criteria for SCO membership," Lavrov said.

"We hope that in Astana in June, the heads of state will consider the issue of how to launch the process of including Iran as a full member," he said in Kazakhstan.

News Story: China ready to improve security cooperation among SCO members - official

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China will make efforts to improve security cooperation among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said Chinese State Councilor Guo Shengkun here Thursday.

China is ready to work jointly to increase mutual political support and cement strategic mutual trust among SCO members, said Guo, when addressing the 12th session of the SCO security council secretaries in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

China proposes to improve the legal basis for security cooperation and actively push for the signing of an SCO anti-extremism treaty, said Guo, who is also the Chinese Minister of Public Security.

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News Story: Joint peacekeeping exercises kick off in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of Steppe Eagle - Spring 2017 tactical-special peacekeeping exercises kicked off at the base of Iliyskiy training centre of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Kazakhstan, the U.S. and British peacekeepers exercise in patrolling zones of responsibility, control of transport highways, installation of roadblocks and crowd control.

Trainings in negotiations, protection of the peacekeeping base, convoying and escorting individuals and humanitarian goods, the clearance of mined areas and rendering of the first medical aid are held as well, the Kazakh Ministry of Defence said.

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News Story: India to conduct joint military exercises with several countries

NEW DELHI, March 24 Xinhua) -- Indian government Friday said it was going to conduct joint military exercises with several countries including China, United Kingdom, Russia and United States this year to boost military ties and enhance bilateral defence cooperation

The information was given India's junior minister for Defense Subhash Bhamre in the parliament.

"Military exercises are to be conducted with Australia, Bangladesh, China, France, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States of America during the year 2017," Bhamre told parliament.

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News Story: Pakistan wants ECO as "strong economic block"Pakistan wants ECO as "strong economic block"

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday urged members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to transform the grouping into a strong economic block through full exploration of its human and material resources.

Speaking at the opening session the ECO council of foreign ministers, which will finalize agenda for the summit to be held on Wednesday, he said that "immediate attention should be paid to intra-regional trade, which is far below its potential."

He underscored the need for implementation of ECO trade agreement and removal of trade and non-trade barriers besides establishing a Free Trade Area in the region.

Aziz also said that lack of regional connectivity is a major impediment to economic cooperation and said there should be focus on projects for greater connectivity.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Terrorism Remains A Threat To Global Security - Afghan Envoy

Addressing the six nations meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow on Wednesday, the Director General of Policy and Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ashraf Haidari, said “terrorism remains a threat to security of region and the world".

“The National Unity Government (NUG) is the legitimate, elected government of Afghanistan—representing all Afghans with equal rights under our progressive Constitution. Our government enjoys the support of the Afghan people, who remain a strategic asset in the fight against terrorism and extremism. That is why the Taliban lack the national and moral legitimacy to represent the Afghan people, who reject terrorism perpetrated by the Taliban and their foreign terrorist allied networks in the name of Islam—a religion of peace, tolerance, and co-existence," Haidari said. 

He stated that Afghanistan firmly believes in peace and has made every effort to reach reconciliation with those armed groups, which have demonstrated a genuine willingness to renounce violence, cut ties with terrorist networks, and opt for peace through a results-driven dialogue.

He mentioned that Afghanistan has signed a peace agreement with Hezb-e-Islami in order to boost the peace process in the country.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to the United Nations (UN) Security Council members and the Sanctions Committee for removing Mr. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from the Sanctions List and to the Russian Federation for their support in this regard,” he said.

He told the participants of the meeting that the conflict in Afghanistan is not a civil war.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: Kazakh Defense Minister, US Ambassador Discuss Military Cooperation

Kazakh Defense Minister held a meeting with US ambassador to Astana George Krol on Tuesday to discuss the military cooperation between the two sides, the Kazakh Defense Ministry's press service said.

ASTANA (Sputnik) — Kazakh Defense Minister Saken Zhasuzakov held a meeting with US ambassador to Astana George Krol on Tuesday and discussed the military cooperation issues between the defense agencies of the two countries, the Kazakh Defense Ministry's press service said.

"During the meeting the sides discussed the issues of bilateral military cooperation between the defense ministries of the countries, prospects for collaboration and sharing of experience in the sphere of military personnel training…," the press service said.

Zhasuzakov thanked the ambassador for delivery of the fourth US Bell UH-1 helicopter (Huey) for the Kazakh Defense Ministry within the framework of the bilateral military cooperation. The US diplomatic mission delivered the helicopter on January 27.

According to the ministry, the two countries are interested in bilateral cooperation in the spheres of field medicine and personnel training.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Kazakhstan intelligence agencies prevented 12 violent extremist acts in 2016

ASTANA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan intelligence agencies prevented 12 violent extremist acts in 2016, Sergei Shveikin, deputy chief of the anti-terrorist center of the Kazakh National Security Committee, said on Tuesday.

"Last year we faced a difficult situation -- the so-called single-Jihad. In 2016, 12 violent extremist acts were prevented at the early stage of preparation and 182 people were convicted in Kazakhstan, among which three were convicted for financing terrorism, who were members of international terrorist organizations," said Shveykin at an international meeting against terrorism in Astana.

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News Story: Afghan forces kill 4 militants, detain 2 foreigners

SARIPUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least four Taliban fighters have been killed and four others injured as security forces attacked militants' positions in Sayad district of the northern Saripul province on Thursday, provincial governor Mohammad Zahir Wahdat said Friday.

"Four Taliban rebels have been killed, four others injured and two foreign nationals have been arrested," Wahdat told reporters here.

"One of the arrested foreign nationals is from Turkmenistan and the other from Kazakhstan," the official said, adding, "both of them received terrorist training in Wazirustan tribal area of Pakistan."

Read the full story at Xinhua