India, Pakistan become full members of SCO

By Aliia Raimbekova

ASTANA (AA) - India and Pakistan were granted full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the end of two-day Heads of State Council summit in the Kazakh capital Astana Friday.

The bloc’s summit was hosted by the Kazakhistan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the independence palace, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif were also present.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed both countries on becoming the new members of the organization.

"It is gratifying that thanks to our joint efforts and vigorous work of the Indian and Pakistani partners, the process has been successfully completed," he added.

Putin said it is "important" for the member states to help new comers to "quickly and efficiently" get used to the organization.

Alongside the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenk, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj also attended the summit as observers.

On last day of the summit, the members also signed a declaration against terrorism. China will run the presidency for next term after Kazakhstan handed over the presidency.

The regional pact was established in 2001 and comprises of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It aims to boost bilateral relations in trade, politics, culture and economy.