SCO’s Regional Anti Terrorist Structure (RATS)

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

At a conference hosted by New Delhi, India, Pakistan, and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation  discussed enhancing cooperation in fighting various regional security problems.

• The conference is being held as part of the SCO’s Regional Anti Terrorist Structure (RATS).

Background:

India assumed chairmanship of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO) on October 28 last year for a period of one year.

About RATS:

• The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• It is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• It specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

About the SCO:

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.

• The Creation of SCO was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China).
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Charter was signed during the St.Petersburg SCO Heads of State meeting in June 2002, and entered into force on 19 September 2003.
• It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.

 Founding members of SCO were-

• The Republic of Kazakhstan,
• The People’s Republic of China,
• The Kyrgyz Republic,
• The Russian Federation,
• The Republic of Tajikistan,
• The Republic of Uzbekistan.

Background:

• Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five, Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001.
• Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders.
• Uzbekistan joined the Organisation in 2001, following this the Shanghai Five was renamed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• India and Pakistan became members in 2017.