PAKISTAN’S INTER-GOVERNMENTALIST APPROACH TOWARDS SCO IN CONTEMPORARY REGIONAL SCENARIO AND CHALLENGES IN PAK-SCO COOPERATION

Abstract

In 2016, Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Obligations for membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It had approached the SCO in the wake of ongoing political and economic transformations taking place at regional and international levels. Asia marks the start of a “New Age,” and Pakistan has already become part of this process by acquiring full membership of the SCO. In this backdrop, the proposed study seeks to explore the challenges and opportunities emanating from Pakistan’s membership of the SCO. Using the theoretical framework of Inter-Governmentalism, it analyses that how Pakistan would be able to pursue an active foreign policy to promote its national interests in future in compatibility with SCO goals. With the combined application of research methodology (qualitative data analysis) and theoretical framework (Inter-governmentalism), the study attempts to critically assess the challenges and prospects of SCO membership for the country. The study concludes the Inter-governmentalist approach as a rather balanced approach for the country in order to pursue national interests effectively and recommends some strategies to cope with the emanating challenges in the wake of its membership.

Keywords: SCO, Pak-SCO. Inter-governmentalism, International cooperation