Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Missed opportunity: On India, the terror fight and the SCO

Missed opportunity: On India, the terror fight and the SCO

India should convince Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to take a strong stance (रुख, दृष्टिकोण) against terrorism

The Qingdao meeting of Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (शंघाई सहयोग संगठन), that ended without a joint communiqué (official communication, official announcement message, statement, report, press release, bulletin, missive, advisory), indicates trouble within the 10-nation grouping (समूह, संगठन). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was forced to withdraw (leave, pull out of, quit, move out of) from the joint declaration as it contained no reference (संदर्भ, उल्लेख) to terrorism at the behest of “one nation” — a reference to Pakistan. This is understandable, given (को देखते हुए, ध्यान में रखते हुए) that the meeting comes just weeks after the Pahalgam attack, and Operation Sindoor, after which India’s resolve (दृढ़ संकल्प, पक्का इरादा) to fight terrorism has redoubled (दुगुना करना, और बढ़ाना). What sounds (appear, look, seem) more surprising is that not only did the draft resolution (मसौदा प्रस्ताव) fail to mention terrorism but member-states including host (मेज़बान, आयोजक) China and Russia had even reportedly (कथित तौर पर) considered referring to “disturbances (अशांति, उपद्रव) in Balochistan”, at the instance of Pakistan, while leaving out mentions of the Pahalgam attack and cross-border (सीमा पार, अंतर-सीमाई) terrorism, that India asked for. This is stark (स्पष्ट, साफ) given that the SCO’s founding (संस्थापक, स्थापना संबंधी) Charter in 2002 focused on the need to build “mutual intraregional efforts to curb (नियंत्रित करना, रोकना) terrorism, separatism (the act of supporting cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, regional, governmental, or gender separation from the larger group) and extremism (radicalism, fanaticism, dogmatism)”, and the Director of SCO’s signature (distinctively associated/connected with someone or something) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation tasked with coordinating counterterrorism efforts across member countries and advancing cooperation on SCO initiatives to mitigate the “Three Evils” - terrorism, separatism and religious extremism) was present. Statements by the SCO Secretariat and the Chinese Foreign Ministry stuck to anodyne (inoffensive, neutral, unobjectionable, unexceptionable; dull, boring, tedious, unexciting; inoffensive, non-contentious; soothing, relaxing, pain-killing, pain-relieving, palliative, anesthetic, sedative. (anodyne as a noun means a “painkiller”)) statements such as “...cooperation ...on modern security challenges and threats”. All eyes will now be on the SCO Foreign Ministers’ July meet and the SCO Summit (meeting, conference, conclave (international meeting/conference of heads of state/government)) in August-September to see if India’s concerns are more appropriately addressed (tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out).

New Delhi must study whether there are shortcomings (fault, flaw, imperfection/defect) in delivering its message on the three-pronged (having three different parts) “new normal” Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced after Operation Sindoor. In particular, China’s unhelpful role as Chair (chairperson, convener) on the issue is disquieting (discouraging, depressing, distressing, disturbing, disheartening), given its recent thaw (an increase in friendliness) with India. Unlike (different from; not similar to; in contrast to/with) the SAARC grouping, where India held sway, the SCO is more focused on the original founders China, Russia and Central Asian States. Mr. Singh’s participation followed closely on the heels of India disassociating (dissociate, separate, detach; break away from, break off relations with) itself from a statement on Israel’s June 13 attack on SCO member Iran as it was critical of (reproving, disapproving, condemning, criticizing) Israel. Post-Operation Sindoor, the government sent parliamentary delegations (a group of representatives; delegates, (diplomatic) mission, deputation, envoys, emissaries) to 32 countries, but not to any SCO member-country. It is possible that the government lost a chance to give the grouping any prominence (importance, influence) by doing so, although External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired (lead, direct, preside over, be in charge of, be in control of) a meeting of the India-Central Asia forum (a mechanism for strengthening relations between India and the five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The 4th meeting of this dialogue is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2025, in New Delhi, alongside the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting on June 5. These events aim to foster cooperation in areas like trade, connectivity, technology, and development, while also addressing regional security concerns) in June. India’s decision to skip hosting (receive guests, have guests, play host, provide hospitality; arrange, organize, have (an event)) an in-person (relating to an event/class where people/student physically present together) Summit of the SCO during its turn (time, chance, opportunity) in 2023 could also still rankle (annoy, upset/irritate; continue to be painful/fester). Breaking with the grouping, which is an important regional forum, will simply leave an open platform for Pakistan. Instead of crying foul, the government must convince members that their interests (common concerns (in politics/business)) lie in strengthening cross-regional support against terrorism.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शंघाई सहयोग संगठन
English Meaning - The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China). The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and is seen as a counterweight to NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization). It was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

2.stance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - रुख, दृष्टिकोण
English Meaning - position, viewpoint, stannd, perspective, approach.

2.grouping (noun)

Hindi Meaning - समूह, संगठन
English Meaning - group, association, organization.

4.reference (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संदर्भ, उल्लेख
English Meaning - mention, comment, remark.

5.given (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - को देखते हुए, ध्यान में रखते हुए
English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

6.resolve (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दृढ़ संकल्प, पक्का इरादा
English Meaning - determination, willpower, firmness, resolution, courage.

7.redouble (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दुगुना करना, और बढ़ाना
English Meaning - make something more intense/ stronger; to increase, strengthen, intensify something considerably

8.draft resolution (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मसौदा प्रस्ताव
English Meaning - a document that seeks to fix the problems within the organisation. The draft resolution can be tabled after the delegates/members voted on amendments with which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an issue are proposed.

9.host (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मेज़बान, आयोजक
English Meaning - presenter, organizer, arranging nation of (an event).

10.reportedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित तौर पर
English Meaning - supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly, professedly, ostensibly, purportedly.

11.disturbance (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अशांति, उपद्रव
English Meaning - disruption; upheaval, commotion, turmoil.

12.cross-border (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सीमा पार, अंतर-सीमाई
English Meaning - across a border between two countries.

13.stark (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्पष्ट, साफ
English Meaning - clear, distinct, evident, obvious, striking.

14.founding (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संस्थापक, स्थापना संबंधी
English Meaning - relating to the the charter based on which the grouping/association established.

15.curb (verb)

Hindi Meaning - नियंत्रित करना, रोकना
English Meaning - control, contain, restrict, limit.

16.communique (noun)

English Meaning - official communication, official announcement message, statement, report, press release, bulletin, missive, advisory.

17.withdraw (verb)

English Meaning - leave, pull out of, quit, move out of.

18.at the behest of (phrase)

English Meaning - in the name of, because of, on behalf of, at the request of, in the interest of; at the order of.

19.sound (verb)

English Meaning - appear, look, seem.

20.resolution (noun)

English Meaning - a formal decision taken at a meeting with the help of a vote; motion, proposal.

21.resolution (noun)

English Meaning - a form in which a legislative body expresses an opinion or a purpose with respect to a given matter or topic (that is temporary in nature).

22.refer (verb)

English Meaning - mention, cite, comment on, point out, bring up, call attention to.

23.at the instance of (phrase)

English Meaning - at the request of.

24.leave out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - miss out, omit, skip, overlook, exclude, drop.

25.ask for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - require, call for, necessitate, demand

26.charter (noun)

English Meaning - constitution, body of law, system of rules, fundamental principles.

27.intra- (prefix)

English Meaning - within.

28.inter- (prefix)

English Meaning - between

29.separatism (noun)

English Meaning - the act of supporting cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, regional, governmental, or gender separation from the larger group.

30.extremism (noun)

English Meaning - radicalism, fanaticism, dogmatism.

31.signature (adjective)

English Meaning - distinctively associated/connected with someone or something.

32.Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) (noun)

English Meaning - a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation tasked with coordinating counterterrorism efforts across member countries and advancing cooperation on SCO initiatives to mitigate the “Three Evils” - terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.

33.stick to (verb)

English Meaning - comply with, abide by, conform to, stand by, adhere to, follow, obey, observe.

34.anodyne (adjective)

English Meaning - inoffensive, neutral, unobjectionable, unexceptionable; dull, boring, tedious, unexciting; inoffensive, non-contentious; soothing, relaxing, pain-killing, pain-relieving, palliative, anesthetic, sedative. (anodyne as a noun means a “painkiller”)

35.all eyes are on something (phrase)

English Meaning - it means that everyone is paying careful attention to something and wait for what will happen.

36.summit (noun)

English Meaning - meeting, conference, conclave (international meeting/conference of heads of state/government).

37.address (verb)

English Meaning - tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

38.shortcoming (noun)

English Meaning - fault, flaw, imperfection/defect.

39.three-pronged (adjective)

English Meaning - having three different parts.

40.the new normal (phrase)

English Meaning - an earlier unusual situation that becomes a standard now.

41.Chair (noun)

English Meaning - chairperson, convener.

42.disquieting (adjective)

English Meaning - discouraging, depressing, distressing, disturbing, disheartening.

43.thaw (noun)

English Meaning - an increase in friendliness.

44.unlike (preposition)

English Meaning - different from; not similar to; in contrast to/with.

45.South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (noun)

English Meaning - Established in 1985, it is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

46.hold sway (phrase)

English Meaning - hold power, have the greatest influence, have control, have the upper hand.

47.come/follow close on the heels of (phrase)

English Meaning - to happen very soon after something; close behind, soon after, right after, following closely, immediately following

48.disassociate (verb)

English Meaning - dissociate, separate, detach; break away from, break off relations with.

49.take sides against (phrase)

English Meaning - to not support/back, do not give one’s support to, not be on the side of, disassociate oneself with; not agree with

50.critical of (adjective)

English Meaning - reproving, disapproving, condemning, criticizing.

51.delegation (noun)

English Meaning - a group of representatives; delegates, (diplomatic) mission, deputation, envoys, emissaries.

52.not to say (phrase)

English Meaning - used to introduce a more critical way of explaining something; not to mention, not including, not to speak of; to say nothing of.

53.prominence (noun)

English Meaning - importance, influence.

54.chair (verb)

English Meaning - lead, direct, preside over, be in charge of, be in control of.

55.the India-Central Asia forum (noun)

English Meaning - a mechanism for strengthening relations between India and the five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The 4th meeting of this dialogue is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2025, in New Delhi, alongside the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting on June 5. These events aim to foster cooperation in areas like trade, connectivity, technology, and development, while also addressing regional security concerns.

56.forum (noun)

English Meaning - meeting, conference, council, convention.

57.host (verb)

English Meaning - receive guests, have guests, play host, provide hospitality; arrange, organize, have (an event).

58.in-person (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to an event/class where people/student physically present together.

59.turn (noun)

English Meaning - time, chance, opportunity.

60.rankle (verb)

English Meaning - annoy, upset/irritate; continue to be painful/fester.

61.break with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - end relations with; leave an organization.