India pitches for connectivity in Asia

Krishna’s message was clear,as New Delhi faces unusually high travel time of two months or more to cross China through the land route and through Chinese ports. It faces similar problems in the route through Iran. While China,Russia,Kazakhstan,Tajikistan,Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are members in SCO,India,Pakistan,Iran and Mongolia are observers.

During Wednesday’s meeting,the member countries adopted the Memorandum of Obligation that will spell out the conditions for new members.

“I am optimistic that India will get an optimistic response,” Krishna said on his way back to Delhi. While New Delhi is keen to become a member of the SCO and get better access to its Central Asian countries,China is not too enthusiastic.

Alexander Lukin,head of the East Asia and SCO research centre at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations,said: “At present,the country most opposed to India’s admission is China.

“It cites a number of arguments — first of all the fairly young SCO,after admitting such a large country,will face numerous organisational problems that will be difficult to resolve; its appearance will change drastically; and the decision-making process,which is already not easy,will become even more difficult.

In the past,he says,Russia agreed to this agreement,but later reconsidered its position. Lukin agrees to the Chinese argument to some extent,but differs on a more substantive note.

“Overall,this is true… indeed,the SCO will have to introduce a third language,English and also expand the Secretariat,the Regional Anti Terrorism Structure (RATS),” he adding that “given India’s significant financial potential,all these problems can be resolved…India has been successfully developing its economy,and its unique economic model,which is oriented towards the domestic market and has shown its advantages during the latest global crisis,could supplement other attractive development models of the SCO member states.”

His argument,Indian officials point out,essentially talks in favour of the economic development by giving better access to Central Asia through China.

Ahmedinejad lashes out at US and West

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad on Wednesday lashed out at the West and the US,at the SCO summit. He asked questions like who has used the atom bomb against defenseless citizens,who has been behind two world wards,who have looted and pillaged petrol through colonial methods. He asked which are the countries who have supported terror groups and have benefitted by using them against others,among other questions.