The SCO, consisting of 10 member states and 2 observers, was founded on principles of fostering regional peace, cooperation, and security—not economic bailout packages….. by Syed Atiq ul Hassan
The current government of Pakistan, installed by the military establishment following the February 8 elections, has taken over through a fraudulent process, stealing the mandate of the people. Now, as it hosts the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad on October 15-16, it is trying to mislead the public into believing that the summit will solve the country’s economic woes. However, the truth is far from what the government is portraying.
The SCO, consisting of 10 member states and 2 observers, was founded on principles of fostering regional peace, cooperation, and security—not economic bailout packages. Its core purpose is to
promote friendly relations, mutual trust, regional peace, and stability while addressing terrorism, radicalism, separatism, organized crime, and illegal migration. It also aims to enhance cooperation in political, economic, scientific, and environmental issues, but the organization is not designed to provide direct financial aid to member states.
The Illusion of Economic Benefit: The fraudulent government, aware of Pakistan’s economic and financial disaster, is selling the idea that hosting the SCO summit will somehow bring economic relief. However, this is a false narrative. The SCO is not a forum for economic bailouts. Instead, it is an alliance aimed at cooperation on security, diplomacy, and regional development. Given Pakistan’s deteriorating law and order situation, political instability, and rampant corruption, any meaningful economic support is highly unlikely to come from this summit.
The country’s law and order situation has deteriorated rapidly, with violent suppression of political protests, attacks on journalists, and judicial interference. This has caught the attention of the international community, and it is inevitable that member states at the summit, including China, Russia, and India, will raise questions about Pakistan’s internal chaos. The government’s hollow promises of economic revival through the SCO are just an attempt to distract the public from the real issues plaguing the nation.
Concerns About Human Rights and Governance: The current government is not just facing economic collapse but also a severe credibility crisis on the international stage. The ongoing human rights abuses—most notably the suppression of protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan—are drawing attention from SCO member states like China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey. These countries have expressed concerns about the violent crackdown on dissent and the instability within Pakistan.
The international media has widely reported on the human rights violations, and it is anticipated that during closed-door meetings, Pakistan’s Prime Minister will face tough questions from Russian and Chinese representatives. Russia, in particular, is expected to inquire about the political crisis surrounding Imran Khan, whose removal from power and subsequent targeting by the military-backed government has not gone unnoticed. Similarly, China, which has lost workers to violence in Pakistan, will likely express concern about the security of its investments and personnel in the country.
Pakistan’s Double Game with the U.S. and China: The current Pakistani government’s foreign policy adds another layer of complexity. On one hand, it is trying to align with the United States, seeking financial support and military cooperation. On the other hand, it is attempting to placate China, a key player in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has growing concerns over the safety of its workers and investments in Pakistan.
This double game of aligning with the U.S. while trying to keep China on its side is unsustainable. China, having invested heavily in Pakistan through CPEC, will not tolerate continuous instability and attacks on its citizens. The fraudulent government’s failure to provide adequate security for Chinese workers, combined with its inability to stabilize the country’s internal situation, is likely to strain relations with Beijing further.
A Summit of Tough Questions, Not Solutions: While the government tries to paint the SCO summit as a victory, it is more likely that Pakistan will face uncomfortable questions from member states about its collapsing internal order. Russia and China, in particular, will want assurances on the safety of their citizens and investments, while also questioning the current government’s legitimacy and the political crackdown on opposition groups.
It is clear that the SCO summit will not bring any immediate economic relief to Pakistan. Instead, the government will be under scrutiny for its inability to maintain law and order, its fraudulent rise to power, and its poor governance. For the people of Pakistan, this summit is nothing but another smokescreen by a government desperate to cling to power.
In conclusion, the SCO summit will likely reveal the deep concerns held by the international community about Pakistan’s internal stability. The fraudulent government may try to present the summit as a diplomatic success, but the reality is that it will face more questions than support. As Pakistan continues its descent into economic and political turmoil, the public must see through the lies and realize that this government has little to offer in terms of real solutions. (The writer is a Sydney-based journalist a political analyst. His email address is shassan@tribune-intl.com).
END
