The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran ‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal 2322-3766 25 105 2019 04 21 Rivalry and Divergence in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Through the lens of China – Russia and India - Pakistan disagreements) Rivalry and Divergence in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Through the lens of China – Russia and India - Pakistan disagreements) 101 132 36192 FA Seyed Majid Qafelehbashi PhD Candidate of Strategic Management, Supreme National Defense University, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2019 08 18 The perspective of integration and deepening cooperation among SCO members within last two decades, especially after its recent geographical extension towards South Asia, is faced with serious questions. The most long lasting bilateral disagreement in SCO is the issue about Kashmir between India and Pakistan. A divergence of Beijing and Moscow’s perception about international system and their different expectations from SCO – besides some other factors) also has led to disintegration in Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The present article tries to find an answer for the following question: what are the main internal rivalries in SCO and how will they affect its consistency and future? The author addresses the hypothesis that “the rivalry between China and Russia for determining SCO’s approach and outlines as well as the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan are the SCO’s main challenges. The former through scattering SCO’s priorities and the latter one through weakening security and defensive relations among the members prevents the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from its future integration and improvement”. The perspective of integration and deepening cooperation among SCO members within last two decades, especially after its recent geographical extension towards South Asia, is faced with serious questions. The most long lasting bilateral disagreement in SCO is the issue about Kashmir between India and Pakistan. A divergence of Beijing and Moscow’s perception about international system and their different expectations from SCO – besides some other factors) also has led to disintegration in Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The present article tries to find an answer for the following question: what are the main internal rivalries in SCO and how will they affect its consistency and future? The author addresses the hypothesis that “the rivalry between China and Russia for determining SCO’s approach and outlines as well as the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan are the SCO’s main challenges. The former through scattering SCO’s priorities and the latter one through weakening security and defensive relations among the members prevents the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from its future integration and improvement”. https://ca.ipisjournals.ir/article_36192_9269e1bdbed3c32a3052f3e88a49debc.pdf