SCO ministerial meeting in Tashkent
- India at the ministerial meeting in Tashkent welcomed the expansion of the SCO to include Iran next year.
Other Initiatives
- While India pushed for Chabahar port to be a conduit for trade to central Asia
- Pakistan promoted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for trans-regional trade
- India’s Foreign minister held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Help to Afghanistan
- Highlighted India's assistance to Afghanistan at the meeting. “Reiterated India’s position on Afghanistan and highlighted our humanitarian support: wheat, medicines, vaccines and clothing,”
- The External Affairs Minister said he had also raised the problems of the energy crisis and food crisis arising from the “Ukraine conflict”, making no mention of Russia's role in the conflict, as well as from the COVID pandemic.
Way Ahead
- India would take over the SCO Presidency next year and would support for the success of the Samarkand Summit”, indicating the Prime Minister would attend the summit on September 15-16.
Prelims Take Away
- SCO
- Location Based questions
- CPEC
- Chabahar Port
- Samarkand summit