Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned home after his successful visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan last night.<br/><br/>During his visit, India signed Memorandum of Obligations, a key document, kick starting the process of its accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO, a powerful security grouping.<br/><br/>The document was signed by Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry Sujata Mehta at the SCO summit which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports, India will have to sign around 30 other documents in the course of the year to complete the process for SCO membership.<br/><br/>SCO's membership is expected to help India have a greater say in issues relating to security and defence besides combating terrorism.<br/><br/>New Delhi is expected to get greater access to major gas and oil exploration projects in Central Asia once it becomes a member of the SCO.<br/><br/>Many of the member countries have huge reserves of oil and natural gas.<br/><br/>India also feels as SCO member, it will be able to play a major role in addressing the threat of terrorism in the region.<br/><br/>Addressing the SCO Summit on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, India will partner SCO nations to protect societies from threats of radical ideologies of hate, violence and terror.<br/><br/>Mr Modi hoped that New Delhi's engagement with all SCO members will help everyone to build a region.<br/><br/>The Prime Minister said, India shares global goals of stability, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.<br/><br/>He said, India would maintain a zero tolerance attitude towards terrorism and ensure to work to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned home after his successful visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan last night.<br/><br/>During his visit, India signed Memorandum of Obligations, a key document, kick starting the process of its accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO, a powerful security grouping.<br/><br/>The document was signed by Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Sujata Mehta at the SCO summit which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports, India will have to sign around 30 other documents in the course of the year to complete the process for SCO membership.<br/><br/>SCO's membership is expected to help India have a greater say in issues relating to security and defence besides combating terrorism.<br/><br/>New Delhi is expected to get greater access to major gas and oil exploration projects in Central Asia once it becomes a member of the SCO.<br/><br/>Many of the member countries have huge reserves of oil and natural gas.<br/><br/>India also feels as SCO member, it will be able to play a major role in addressing the threat of terrorism in the region.<br/><br/>Addressing the SCO Summit yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, India will partner SCO nations to protect societies from threats of radical ideologies of hate, violence and terror.<br/><br/>Mr Modi hoped that New Delhi's engagement with all SCO members will help everyone to build a region.<br/><br/>The Prime Minister said, India shares global goals of stability, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.<br/><br/>He said, India would maintain a zero tolerance attitude towards terrorism and ensure to work to maintain peace and stability in the region.