Leaders from member states of the Shanghai Five gathered in China on June 14 to formalize a framework for cooperation and explore expansion. The summit comes at a time of heightened concern about Central Asian security, as regional governments battle to contain an Islamic insurgency. A lack of coordination has so far hampered anti-insurgency efforts, and some of the disputes involving member states have proven difficult to resolve.

Representatives are expected to approve a declaration that formally creates the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. After the adoption of the Charter of Rules, member states will launch a debate about expansion. Uzbekistan, which currently enjoys observer status, is expected to gain full membership during the summit.

One of the major aims of the SCO is to improve the regional response to disparate dilemmas connected with radical Islam. All member states have expressed concern about the rise of Islamic militancy, including China, where the mainly Muslim Uighur minority has become increasingly active in the northeastern Xinjiang Province.

According to the press service of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, the organization can provide members with "comprehensive opportunities" to combat international terrorism and religious extremism, the Interfax news agency reported. Officials in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states are bracing for a third summer of insurgent raids staged by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which maintains training and logistical bases in Afghanistan. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archives].

The SCO also will explore expansion into South Asia. Already, Pakistan has expressed interest in joining the organization as an observer. As a staunch supporter of the Taliban, which, in turn, is a sponsor of the IMU, Pakistan's inclusion in the SCO could have a significant impact on Central Asian security developments.

So far, SCO governments have taken a largely unilateral approach in confronting Islamic radicalism. In some cases, actions designed to thwart Islamic militants have fueled inter-governmental tensions. The distrust and animosity generated by the prevailing go-it-alone approach has hampered anti-insurgent operations. The most notable example is Uzbekistan's decision to mine its frontiers with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In reaction to recent civilian deaths caused by mines, the Kyrgyz parliament adopted a resolution on June 13 that calls on Uzbekistan to hand over information concerning the location of some minefields along the border. The measure also instructs the Kyrgyz military to clear some minefields.

Lingering border disputes have also hindered strategic military cooperation. For example, Kyrgyz officials expressed hope that the SCO could help resolve a dispute with Uzbekistan over access to the Sokh enclave. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Uzbek officials have exerted considerable economic and political pressure on their Kyrgyz counterparts to grant a land corridor linking the Sokh enclave with Uzbekistan proper. Bishkek has resisted such a border adjustment.

Prior to the Shanghai Five summit, Russian President Vladmir Putin met with his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin for talks that focused on countering the US initiative to deploy a missile defense shield. Both China and Russia are outspoken opponents of the US missile defense initiative. The SCO is expected to express collective opposition to the deployment of a US missile shield.

The SCO joins an increasingly crowded field of multilateral economic and security organizations involving Central Asian states. Other organizations including the Collective Security Treaty, the Eurasian Economic Community and GUUAM.