Incoming SCO chief Vladimir Norov offers to help India manage Pakistan ties

NEW DELHI: Incoming Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Vladimir Norov has offered his good offices to manage differences between India and Pakistan and India and China that would further goals of the regional organisation that spans from the boundaries of Europe to the Pacific.

Norov, former Uzbek Foreign Minister, on a visit to India this week told ET that he would offer his position to harmonise differences between Delhi and Beijing on Belt and Road Initiative and Delhi and Islamabad.

Norov will take over as SCO SG for a period of three years from Jan 2019 and listed stability of Afghanistan, countering terror in Eurasia and expanding economic partnership as the priorities for SCO. India and Pakistan attended the SCO Summit as full members for the first time this June. “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 (INSTC) of which India is a key member,” Norov pointed out.


“It was also heartening to see that India and Pakistan participate in the joint military drills under the aegis of SCO,” felt the senior diplomat who will be first Uzbek national to head any international organisation.

Describing SCO as a non-bloc regional organisation that is not targeted against any other organisation, Norov quipped SCO promotes happiness as SCO as eight members and number eight in Chinese culture infers happiness. “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. India will also play a significant role in SCO Regional Anti- Terror Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent,” hoped Norov.