Pakistan and Regional Cooperation Organizations: Towards a Futuristic Approach

Irfan Shahzad Irfan Shahzad

doi:10.13169/polipers.14.1.0121

Abstract

Pakistan is member of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for past more than three decades. It is also an observer of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and expected to get full membership in June 2017. The track record so far and prospects ahead indicate that SAARC will remain hostage to Pak-India tensions, and India's quest for dominance. ECO, while not having recorded a desirable progress either, signals comparatively more potential. Cooperation with China and Russia from ECO's platform seems a bright possibility. SCO, with both security and economic cooperation in its scope, presents even brighter prospects for Pakistan for a broader regional level engagement. Besides, inter-organization cooperation and sub-regional initiatives can be explored and fostered.

Highlights

Regional groupings are considered an important instrument for promoting regional cooperation and integration
Pakistan is founding member in both these organizations. Another organization that has emerged in this region over past one and a half decade is Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Pakistan is an observer at Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is on the way to get full membership, expectedly in the

Summary

Irfan Shahzad

Abstract [Pakistan is member of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for past more than three decades. It is an observer of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and expected to get full membership in June 2017. The track record so far and prospects ahead indicate that SAARC will remain hostage to Pak-India tensions, and India’s quest for dominance. ECO, while not having recorded a desirable progress either, signals comparatively more potential. SCO, with both security and economic cooperation in its scope, presents even brighter prospects for Pakistan for a broader regional level engagement. Inter-organization cooperation and sub-regional initiatives can be explored and fostered. Inter-organization cooperation and sub-regional initiatives can be explored and fostered. – Author.]

Introduction

Prerequisites for Regional Cooperation

Findings

Possibilities and Policy Options