Iran will be admitted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this year, with a memorandum on the country's obligations to be signed at a summit in Samarkand, which will take place from 
September 15-16, Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister, Vladimir Norov, said on Monday, as reported by ANI.

"This year, within Uzbekistan's chairmanship, Iran will be admitted to the SCO as an observer state ... A memorandum on Iran's obligations as an SCO member will also be signed in Samarkand," Norov said at a panel meeting in Moscow.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai in 2001 by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and China. It evolved from an earlier regional security grouping formed in 1996 after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the Central Asian states gained independence from Moscow. The historical meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was held on June 8-9, 2017 in Astana. At the meeting, the status of a full member of the Organization was granted to India and Pakistan.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-committee-to-focus-on-trump-proud-boys-and-oath-keepers-at-capitol-riot-hearing-496526">&nbsp;US House committee to focus on Trump, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers at Capitol riot hearing</a>

Initially focused on regional security, including border conflicts, terrorism and militant Islam, its activities have expanded to cover economics and trade, transport and law enforcement. Security and economic cooperation remain priorities. China and Russia are the dominant members. Russia regards Central Asia as its sphere of influence but Chinese economic sway is growing. At an informal level, the SCO is a diplomatic platform that helps address and contain potential friction.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Iran will be admitted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this year, with a memorandum on the country's obligations to be signed at a summit in Samarkand, which will take place from September 15-16, Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister, Vladimir Norov, said on Monday, as reported by ANI.

Iran will be admitted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this year, with a memorandum on the country's obligations to be signed at a summit in Samarkand, which will take place from September 15-16, Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister, Vladimir Norov, said on Monday, as reported by ANI. "This year, within Uzbekistan's chairmanship, Iran will be admitted to the SCO as an observer state ... A memorandum on Iran's obligations as an SCO member will also be signed in Samarkand," Norov said at a panel meeting in Moscow. The SCO was founded in Shanghai in 2001 by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and China. It evolved from an earlier regional security grouping formed in 1996 after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the Central Asian states gained independence from Moscow. The historical meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was held on June 8-9, 2017 in Astana. At the meeting, the status of a full member of the Organization was granted to India and Pakistan. Also Read: US House committee to focus on Trump, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers at Capitol riot hearing Initially focused on regional security, including border conflicts, terrorism and militant Islam, its activities have expanded to cover economics and trade, transport and law enforcement. Security and economic cooperation remain priorities. China and Russia are the dominant members. Russia regards Central Asia as its sphere of influence but Chinese economic sway is growing. At an informal level, the SCO is a diplomatic platform that helps address and contain potential friction. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iran will become full-fledged member of SCO this year

A group of fighters from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to rivals the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) weeks after the former group's leader died, according to a video.&nbsp; 
 
The video fuels fears that ISWAP is consolidating control of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria following the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last month. But not all observers are convinced the video is proof that all Boko Haram fighters are ready to join ISWAP. 
 
The groups engaged in a violent rivalry for years, and if ISWAP absorbs Boko Haram fighters, it could focus attention on attacking the Nigerian military. 
 
Some 350,000 people have died as a result of the 12-year insurgency and subsequent humanitarian crisis, the United Nations said this week. 
 
The video, produced by Islamic State's official media arm, showed clips of several hundred men, many of whom were armed, gathering in the bush. Several made statements to camera. 
 
"We will unite together to fight the (unbelievers)," one Boko Haram fighter said in Hausa. "What will happen now will by far exceed what transpired in the past now that we're united." 
 
Vincent Foucher, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who is an expert on the conflict, said the video adds to evidence that ISWAP was gaining control. 
 
"It is one more indication that ISWAP has won," he said. 
 
Foucher said other indicators of ISWAP's consolidation of power included its claims of attacks in areas that had been Boko Haram zones of influence and a significant drop in violence against civilians in areas where Boko Haram operated. 
 
However, Bulama Bukarti, a senior analyst with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, dismissed the video as propoganda, noting that it did not feature senior Boko Haram leaders. 
 
"I think Boko Haram is still very much divided and they will continue to fight each other," Bukarti said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A group of fighters from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to rivals the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) weeks after the former group's leader died, according to a video.

A group of fighters from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to rivals the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) weeks after the former group's leader died, according to a video. The video fuels fears that ISWAP is consolidating control of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria following the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last month. But not all observers are convinced the video is proof that all Boko Haram fighters are ready to join ISWAP. The groups engaged in a violent rivalry for years, and if ISWAP absorbs Boko Haram fighters, it could focus attention on attacking the Nigerian military. Some 350,000 people have died as a result of the 12-year insurgency and subsequent humanitarian crisis, the United Nations said this week. The video, produced by Islamic State's official media arm, showed clips of several hundred men, many of whom were armed, gathering in the bush. Several made statements to camera. "We will unite together to fight the (unbelievers)," one Boko Haram fighter said in Hausa. "What will happen now will by far exceed what transpired in the past now that we're united." Vincent Foucher, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who is an expert on the conflict, said the video adds to evidence that ISWAP was gaining control. "It is one more indication that ISWAP has won," he said. Foucher said other indicators of ISWAP's consolidation of power included its claims of attacks in areas that had been Boko Haram zones of influence and a significant drop in violence against civilians in areas where Boko Haram operated. However, Bulama Bukarti, a senior analyst with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, dismissed the video as propoganda, noting that it did not feature senior Boko Haram leaders. "I think Boko Haram is still very much divided and they will continue to fight each other," Bukarti said. (With inputs from agencies)

Boko Haram fighters pledge allegiance to Islamic State in video, worrying observers

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