Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has created itself as mega bloc in counter terrorism in synergy of regional security frameworks in counter terrorism, terrorism, separatism and extremism. International counterterrorism frameworks have historically swung largely between NATO-led Western alliances on one hand, and on the other the SCO’s allergy to formality and multipolarity, regional cooperation, and mutual security guarantees.
While SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and its multilateral exercises such as Peace Mission offer a proactive response to terrorism of the digital age, it is also contributing significantly in redefining security cooperation in Eurasia.
The SCO prioritizes intelligence-sharing and coordinated law enforcement over unilateral military interventions in counterterrorism efforts.
In SCO’s concept of counterterrorism collaboration, terrorism is a common threat of a transnational character which should be addressed jointly. Unlike Western counterterrorism models of which contact with far distant regions are almost always accompanied with military interventions, the SCO is based on prevention, intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement among member states.
The organization is headed by RATS, based in Uzbekistan, which is the body at its center to counter terrorism; with a consensual and cooperative approach as opposed to unilateral military interventions. This distinction gives SCO a distinctive place and growing influence in Eurasian landscape.
The SCO’s security framework had been realized in executing joint counterterrorism exercises, among them the Peace Mission ones. The drills, in Russia’s Ural Mountains, have boosted the tactical coordination of security forces from host Russia as well as China, Pakistan and other member states. When historical rivals India and Pakistan come together to participate, these kinds of exercises take on even more importance. The SCO’s commitment to modern threats such as cyberterrorism and digital radicalization is also evidenced in the inclusion of joint cyber counterterrorism exercises in the form of for instance the Xiamen-2015 online counterterrorism drill.
Nevertheless, the success of the SCO is also constrained by challenges in the counterterrorism fight. Afghanistan’s political instability is still both a major concern, as ISIS tries to fill the resultant power vacuum. Afghanistan’s stability is a recognized importance for the SCO with respective diplomatic initiatives like the Afghanistan Contact Group aimed to carry out dialogue and peace efforts over the long term. But, can the SCO exert enough influence to ensure a stable Afghanistan, especially after all these years of trying to do it by external powers?
Afghanistan’s political instability remains a major security concern for the SCO, with ISIS exploiting the power vacuum.
Additionally, the internal cohesion within the SCO has yet to be achieved. Despite expansion of membership and economic cooperation, the potency of the organization’s operational efficiency might be inhibited by divergence in member state priorities in respect of counterterrorism. The SCO decision making process is even more complex than that of NATO, which is a military first followed by diplomatic sensitivities and national interests. The organization’s future effectiveness is dependent on having a clearly defined operational mechanisms for a unified counterterrorism doctrine.
The regional counterterrorism model presented by the SCO’s architecture is compelling, as it is based on dialogue over intervention, regional security rather than external military presence. Continuing engagement with India in a hopefully structured non confrontational set up, the SCO will be crucial for Pakistan for developing/security partnerships with Central Asian Republics, India and Russia along with China.
Peace Mission drills have strengthened tactical coordination among China, Russia, Pakistan, and India, despite geopolitical rivalries.
Since the trend of terrorism is advancing in complexity, the SCO needs to quicken its efforts to reinforce the counterterrorism mechanisms and advance intelligence sharing frameworks, and combat new threats brought about by the digital radicalization. The prospect of the future regional security in the Eurasia is not just about military preparedness, strategic cooperation, institutional trust, and political will for confronting the common threats, but there is an additional element called ‘political’. Yet, the SCO’s still developing counterterrorism model should be viewed as an indispensable aspect of shaping a more secure and cooperative regional order.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
