India, Pakistan, China to take part in Joint Anti-Terrorism Exercise ‘Pabbi-Antiterror’ in 2021: 36th Council meeting of RATS SCO

India, Pakistan, China & other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will take part in a Joint Anti-Terrorism Exercise called ‘Pabbi-Antiterror-2021’ scheduled to take place in 2021. The decision to hold a Joint Anti-Terrorism exercise was taken during the 36th meeting of the Council of RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) of SCO held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 18, 2021.

• RATS, headquartered in Tashkent is a permanent organ of SCO which aims to promote cooperation among 8-members of SCO against Terrorism, Separatism & Extremism.

Highlights of the Meeting

• The participants approved the draft program of cooperation for 2022-2024 to counter-terrorism, separatism & extremism.
• They also agreed to improve cooperation for identifying and suppressing channels that finance terrorist activities.
• The next meeting of RATS SCO will be held in September 2021 in Uzbekistan.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):

It is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance that was established in 2001 in Shanghai, China.  Founding members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan & Uzbekistan.

i.Total members – 8; Observers – 4

• Members – China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan & Uzbekistan, India & Pakistan
• Observers – Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran & Mongolia
• India & Pakistan joined SCO in 2017.

1. SCO has 2 permanent bodies –  SCO Secretariat based in Beijing, China & Executive Committee of RATS based in Tashkent.

Recent Related News:

i.On November 30, 2020, India virtually hosted the 19th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Council of Heads of Government (SCO CHG).  It was chaired by the Vice President of India Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu from New Delhi.

About Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation  (RATS SCO):

Director – Jumakhon Giyosov
Head Office – Tashkent, Uzbekistan