India on July 4, 2024, asked the international community to isolate and expose those countries that harbour terrorists, provides safe havens and condone terrorism, underlining that if left unchecked, can become a major threat to regional and global peace, in a veiled jibe at China and its all-weather-ally, Pakistan.
Delivering PM Modi’s message and remarks at the 24th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of States here in Kazakh capital, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who was physically present at the meeting recalled that one of the SCO’s primary goals is to combat terrorism.
“Many of us have had our experiences often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, then it can become a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified and condoned,” he told the Summit which was attended by China’s President Xi Jinping and Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin among others.
He said that the international community must isolate and expose those countries that harbours terrorists provide safe havens and condone terrorism in an apparent reference towards China and Pakistan, both of which call each other “all weather allies” and “iron-brothers” with the former placing hold on proposals in the United Nations to blacklist the latter’s most wanted terrorists.
“Cross border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation of youth,” he said adding that the joint statement issued during India’s presidency last year on this subject underlines New Delhi’s shared commitment.
Later, Jaishankar delivered PM Modi’s remarks at the extended format meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of States where he spoke about the challenges saying that terrorism would surely rank foremost for many of us. “The truth is that it continues to be used by nations as a tool for destabilisation.
We have had our experiences with cross border terrorism. Let us be clear that terrorism in any kind cannot be justified or condoned. Harbouring terrorists must be strongly condemned,” he said, adding that the SCO must never waiver its commitment.
We cannot have double standards in this regard. He also said that the SCO extended family shares a commitment to reform the international order. This is possibly when those efforts extend to the United Nations and its Security Council, we hope that in the near future, we can develop a strong consensus on the way ahead,” he said.
“When it comes to geo-economics, the need of the day is to create multiple, reliable and resilient supply chains he said, adding that India is opened to partnering with others in capacity building especially nations of the Global South. Noting that the current debate is focused on creating new connectivity linkages that would better serve the rebalanced world, and if it is to get momentum, it will require the efforts of many.”
“It must also be respectful of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and be built on the foundation of non-discriminatory trade and transit rights to neighbors,” he said, in an apparent reference to China which is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes with several countries.
China has invested billions in various power projects and road networks in Pakistan under the USD 65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which is opposed by India as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POJK). He also said that the progress made by India in developing Iran’s Chabahar Port not only holds “great value” to landlocked Central Asian states but also “de-risks” commerce between India and Eurasia. He described the SCO as a principle-based organisation, whose consensus drives the approach of its member states, and said the grouping occupies a “prominent place in our foreign policy”.
“At this time, it is particularly noteworthy that we are reiterating mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force as a basis for our foreign policies. We have also agreed not to take any measures contrary to the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
Modi congratulated the Kazakh side for successfully hosting the summit and also conveyed India’s best wishes to China for the next presidency of the SCO. With nine member states, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Beijing-based SCO has emerged as an influential economic and security bloc and one of the largest trans-regional international organisations. Belarus joined as the 10th member.
