Topilov, Fakhod. "The Tashkent Summit and the Expanded SCO". Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, 27 June 2016.

Topilov, Fakhod. "The Tashkent Summit and the Expanded SCO". Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, 27 June 2016.

• As pointed out numerous times by Islom Karimov at the SCO summits in Ufa and Toshkent, the expansion of the SCO in both members and responsibilities brings new challenges that the organization may not be able to face. The latent conflict between India and Pakistan, its newest members, is one of the greatest.
• The SCO will from now on face more difficulties in achieving consensus during decision making on basic issues on the organization’s agenda, taking into account the sometimes diametrically opposite approaches of some states towards current international and regional developments.
• At the 2016 Toshkent Summit, President Karimov stressed the importance of keeping the SCO a non-alliance, in which states are still allowed to carried out independent foreign policies.
• President Karimov reiterated his vision of peace in Afghanistan, encouraging an inclusive peace process under UN control. This would include unconditional peace talks with the Taliban, an uncommon suggestion in the SCO. 
• This comment may have been addressed more specifically to India and Pakistan, who are major players in Afghanistan and have been known to stir violence in pursuit of the their foreign policy aims.
• The author believes that the near identical statements made by the SCO after its 2015 and 2016 summits reflect the growing Chinese dominance in setting the organizational agenda. The 'friendly face' of the SCO prevents more criticism that China already faces in the South China Sea, which is why it was resisted controversial initiatives like the Russian EEU.