Letter from the Director Dear delegates, My name is Koby Chen and I am beyond ecstatic to be welcoming you to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). As a rising sophomore at St. George’s School, I have the utmost pleasure to be serving as your Director for this committee. Staffing alongside me will be your Chair, Sana Shams, a rising junior at Semiahmoo Secondary. As a Dais team, we look forward to spectating the fruitful discussions, eloquence, and statecraft that will be employed to solve the topics and crises at hand. Within my two years of participation in Model UN, I have truly understood its intersections of debate, international relations, and diplomacy. Throughout this weekend, not only will you engage in structured debate, you will also encounter fast-paced crises and jocular moments within committee session. It is in my belief that Model UN is a meaningful activity to pursue, as you will develop your oratory, critical thinking, and writing skills–abilities applicable to any situation. Furthermore, conferences are the pinnacle for networking and connection. It is bound that you will create long-lasting friendships and form beautiful memories. While you may feel doubtful or nervous at first, I invite you to step up to the podium and immerse yourself in the riveting world of Model UN. Over the course of three days and multiple committee sessions, we will be discussing the tense India-Pakistan conflict as well as major Separatist Movements within the Asian region. While these two issues have international consequences, each problem is prevailing in the Asian continent. Thus, comprehensive resolutions addressing each topic through a regional lens will hold significance in future discussions and actions made by the global community. The Dais team encourages delegates to craft a position paper, as the quality and depth of your research will reflect your experience and performance throughout sessions. For more information on position paper policies, please refer to the Position Paper Guide on the CAHSMUN website. Both Sana and I are thrilled to see a weekend of leadership and discussion on our topics. If you have any inquiries about the topics, backgrounder, committee, Rules of Procedure, or Model UN in general, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to getting to know each one of you in April; best of luck to you in SCO and at CAHSMUN 2020! 1 CAHSMUN SCO Backgrounder A Godspeed, Koby Chen Director of SCO — CAHSMUN 2020 Committee Description The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian economic, political, and security alliance announced in Shanghai, China on June 15, 2001.1 The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Charter, formally establishing the organization, was signed in June 2002 and entered into force on September 19, 2003. The original nations of the SCO are comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Since then, the organization has expanded its membership to countries all around the Asian Pacific region. This single- chambered body was precedent by the Shanghai 5 Mechanism. The SCO is comprised of eight member states, four observer states, and six dialogue partners.2 More participation from countries within the middle east and around Asia are expected to participate in the near future. To this day, it is the largest regional organization in the world in terms of geographical coverage and regard, covering nearly half of the human population.3 Annually, the heads of state congregate and adopt decisions and guidelines on important matters of the organization. The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision- making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organization. The SCO Heads of Government Council (HGC) meets once a year to discuss the organization's multilateral cooperation strategy and priority areas, to resolve current important economic and other cooperation issues, and to approve the organization's annual budget.4 The official languages of the SCO are Russian and Chinese. Solutions and policies of this committee include military exercises, combatting terrorism, maintaining regional stability, and addressing other external threats.5 The committee also addresses economic cooperation with plans outlining trade policies within the region. These aspects, alongside engaging in cultural and humanitarian cooperation, make up the majority 1 http://eng.sectsco.org/ 2 https://dppa.un.org/en/shanghai-cooperation-organization 3 Ibid. 4https://thediplomat.com/2019/06/the-shanghai-cooperation-organization-a-vehicle-for-cooperation-or-competition/ 5 https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/shanghai-cooperation-organization 2 CAHSMUN SCO Backgrounder A of the goals of the SCO. In addition, operating bodies such as the regional anti-terrorist structure (RATS) address the specificities of terrorism in the Asian region.6 The SCO’s growing centrality within the east establishes itself as the primary security pillar of the region. Topic Overview With the rise of new interests and political reforms, the tension between these two acrimonious neighbors has heightened. India and Pakistan, both located within the South Asian continent, are not only powerful countries in terms of military strength, but also have major implications on regional hegemony and stability as a whole. The two nations geographically surround Jammu and Kashmir (JK), a subcontinent located in the Himalayan mountains. The value of this subcontinent is paramount; India and Pakistan have historically fought three wars, two of those being on Kashmir.7 This region is claimed to be one of the most militarized areas in the world and is at the heart of the conflict. Tensions rose as a suicide car bombing was carried out on February 14, 2019, in which 40 Indian security personnel were killed.8 The divide of these nations has led to increased friction, and the recent terrorist attack has led to the most intense military escalation of the decade. The long term implications of this topic are manifold. First, both nations have major nuclear arsenals. Even though nuclear weapons have not been employed after World War II, India and Pakistan have been proliferating their armories. Horizontal nuclear proliferation through the years means that more nations have access to these arsenals. The more nuclear forces in the world, the more likely they are to be used–especially in perilous crises similar to this one.9 Thus, both parties hold significant might in terms of destruction and force. Although the likelihood of respective nations using their nuclear weaponry is up for debate, it is still a major factor demonstrating the severity of this conflict. Secondly, India and Pakistan are major stakeholders in international economics. India has a GDP of almost $2.6 trillion USD, making it one of the largest markets in the world. The country has major trade ties with China, Europe, and many markets around the globe.10 While the economic status of Pakistan is not as high, it still plays a key role in the global 6 http://eng.sectsco.org/ 7 https://www.bbc.com/news/10537286 8https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/2186769/suicide-bombing-kashmir-pakistan-appeals-un- defuse-escalating 9 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/08/kashmir-crisis-will-nuclear-armed-pakistan-go-war-india/ 10 https://www.ibef.org/economy/indian-economy-overview 3 CAHSMUN SCO Backgrounder A market. Pakistan has the 24th highest purchasing power parity and has significant industrial and agricultural sectors in the resource-rich Asian continent.11 Conflicts between the two nations will have severe detriments to both nations’ economies, posing a risk to both Asian and international economic development. As both India and Pakistan are major member states of the SCO, this conflict holds significance within the efficiency of this committee. Their cooperation is vital for managing regional economies, a factor that will face consequences in the wake of an Indo-Pakistani war. As violence and political tensions become increasingly prevalent, the development of the South Asian region is held at a stall. Terrorist attacks and military proliferations have caused institutional shifts and have driven attention away from humanitarian rights, education, health, and the safety of citizens. Ultimately, this conflict will come at human costs. Within the SCO, it is up to delegates to seek out reforms in terms of military escalations, regional trade, counter-terrorism, and other major issues mentioned in this backgrounder. Effective resolutions will ultimately set precedence in resolving territorial disputes and regional conflicts. As violent continues to perpetuate, addressing financial, humanitarian, and militaristic disputes will preserve the lives of millions. Timeline 947 - Britain, as they decolonize the Indian subcontinent, divides it into secular Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. The partition causes one of the largest human migrations ever seen in history and sparks riots and violence across the region.12 1947/48 - The first India-Pakistan war over Kashmir is fought, after armed tribesmen named Lashkars invade the disputed territory in October 1947. The Maharaja, faced with an internal revolt as well an external invasion, requests the assistance of the Indian armed forces. He hands over control of his defense, communications and foreign affairs to the Indian government.13 1954 - The accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India is approved by the state's constituent assembly.14 11 https://www.heritage.org/index/country/pakistan 12 Ibid. 13 https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/india-pakistan-war 14 Ibid. 4 CAHSMUN SCO Backgrounder A 1964 - Following the failure of the 1963 talks, Pakistan refers the Kashmir case to the UN Security Council.15 1965 - India and Pakistan fight their second war. The conflict begins after a clash between border patrols in April in the Rann of Kutch, and escalates, when between 26 000 and 33 000 Pakistani soldiers cross the ceasefire line dressed as Kashmiri locals, crossing into Kashmir.16 1971 - India and Pakistan go to war a third time, specifically in East Pakistan.