Jaishankar Asks SCO To Step Up On Terror, Transit And Multipolar Cooperation Amid Growing Global Disorder

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers in Tianjin on Tuesday (15 July), stressing the need for unity in the face of growing global instability, terrorism, and economic uncertainty.

Calling attention to the turbulent international climate, Jaishankar remarked, “We meet at a time of considerable disorder in the international system. In the last few years, we have seen more conflicts, competition and coercion.”

He pointedly referred to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April, which he said was “deliberately conducted to undermine the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, while sowing a religious divide.”

He said that the UN Security Council condemned the attack in the strongest terms and “underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice”.

“We have since done exactly that and will continue doing so," he added.

Jaishankar also noted that SCO was founded to combat the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

"It is imperative that the SCO, to remain true to its founding objectives, take an uncompromising position on this challenge," he added.

Reiterating India’s contributions to the SCO in areas such as innovation, traditional medicine and digital public infrastructure, Jaishankar stressed that cooperation must be “based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and in accordance with territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states.”

On the economic front, he flagged the lack of reliable transit options as a pressing issue that hampers intra-regional trade.

“Its absence undermines the seriousness of advocating cooperation in economic areas,” he noted, also urging for stronger promotion of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Regarding Afghanistan, he emphasised the need for sustained development assistance and regional commitment.

Finally, he underlined the SCO’s evolving role in a multi-polar world, saying, “Our ability to contribute to the shaping of world affairs will naturally depend on how well we come together on a shared agenda.”

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