A Critical Analysis of the Structure and History of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The 17th Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, in June 2017, which was attended by all of the organization's member countries. Pakistan and India were accepted as full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at the Astana Summit. Two of the region's most populated countries joined the SCO, which was a significant change for the region. These two nations, along with Iran, first attended an SCO meeting as observers at the Astana Summit in 2005. It is the organization's first but significant expansion since its founding, particularly in terms of economics, security, and geography. The two most powerful countries in South Asia are Pakistan and India. With the inclusion of the two states, the SCO now has twice the coverage and features. The SCO will gain new momentum in terms of economic, security, and other aspects with the addition of both new members. This means that the SCO's long-term growth plan has come to fruition and that the organization's internal development is nearly complete.