Modi attends SCO summit

Ufa (Russia), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended the 15th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Ufa with the leaders of the bloc expected to start a membership process for India and Pakistan.

"A historic first. The Indian PM attends SCO Heads of State Plenary Session in preparation for joining as member state," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

In what is expected to be a major development at the Ufa summit, SCO leaders are set to pass a resolution on starting the procedures of granting India and Pakistan full membership of the organization.

Founded in 2001, the SCO has China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its full members.

Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers while Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners. (IANS)