Islamabad: At the SCO meeting chaired by Pakistan, India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar urged the group to intensify efforts against the ‘three evils’ of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, warning that these threats impede the peace and stability necessary for regional integration.
Jaishankar made these remarks in India’s national statement at the inaugural session of the SCO Council for Heads of Government in Islamabad, during the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. His comments, as with any reference to cross-border terrorism in Indian diplomatic statements, were unmistakably aimed at Pakistan.
“If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel,” said Jaishankar.
The Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, who inaugurated the session, made no implicit reference to India regarding terrorism in his speech. He stated only that the international community must urge the Taliban government in Kabul to take concrete measures to prevent its soil from being used to launch terror attacks “against its neighbours, by any entity.”
In his prepared speech, Jaishankar said that the “answer” to meeting the complex economic and political challenges “lie in the Charter of our organisation.” He referred to Article 1 of the Charter, which emphasises strengthening mutual trust, friendship, and good neighbourliness while also addressing key challenges.
“The Charter was equally clear what the key challenges were. And these were primarily three, that the SCO was committed to combatting: one, terrorism; two, separatism; and three, extremism.”
Jaishankar noted that these goals and tasks are “even more crucial” now, more than two decades after the SCO Charter was adopted. “It is, therefore, essential that we have an honest conversation. If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address.”
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Calling for a reaffirmation of commitment to the Charter, Jaishankar clarified that this was not merely a call that would benefit India.
“Globalisation and rebalancing are realities that cannot be denied. Cumulatively, they have created many new opportunities in terms of trade, investment, connectivity, energy flows, and other forms of collaboration. There is no question that our region would benefit immensely if we take this forward,” he said.
However, Jaishankar noted that development and growth require peace and stability, which necessitates being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils.’
Reiterating India’s stance on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Jaishankar stated that “cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality” and “recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty.” He emphasised, “It must be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. It cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit.”
India’s primary objection to the BRI stems from its opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which traverses territory also claimed by New Delhi.
Unsurprisingly, the Pakistani Prime Minister strongly advocated for “projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and International North-South Corridor (INSC) to be expanded to improve connectivity, focusing on roads, railways, and digital infrastructure.” He asserted that these projects should not be viewed “through the narrow political prism.”
