Veiled Dig At China And Pakistan, Call For Sovereign Equality: Six Key Highlights From Jaishankar's Address At SCO Meet in Islamabad

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (16 October) addressed the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government.

In his remarks, Jaishankar emphasised the need for territorial integrity and cooperation based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.

Here are the key highlights of Jaishankar's speech:

1.Global Conflicts and Challenges: Jaishankar noted that the world is facing serious challenges due to ongoing conflicts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These issues are disrupting economic growth, global supply chains, and development goals for many nations, particularly in the developing world.

2. Firm Commitment to the SCO Charter: He underscored that the progress of the SCO depends on a firm commitment to the organization's Charter.

He reiterated that member states must work towards peace, stability, and cooperation to ensure regional prosperity.

Jaishankar also stressed the importance of trust and good neighbourliness.

3. Focus on Countering Terrorism, Extremism, and Separatism: One of the core themes of Jaishankar's address was the need to combat the 'three evils'—terrorism, extremism, and separatism.

Jaishankar made it clear that without addressing these threats, efforts in trade, connectivity, and cooperation would be undermined.

Specifically, his comments could be seen as a thinly veiled message to Pakistan, emphasising that cooperation among SCO member states would not flourish if terrorism, extremism, and separatism persist across borders.

"It is axiomatic that development and growth requires peace and stability. And as the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’. If activities across borders are characterized by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel," he said.

4. Call for Sovereign Equality and Respect: He strongly advocated that cooperation among SCO members must be grounded in mutual respect and sovereign equality.

He warned against unilateral approaches, especially in trade and transit, implicitly referencing India's concerns over China's Belt and Road Initiative.

"Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. It should recognize territorial integrity and sovereignty. It must be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. It cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit," he said.

5. Advocating for Multilateral Reform: Jaishankar pushed for reform of the UN Security Council to better represent developing nations.

He emphasised that multilateralism must evolve to reflect the realities of a multi-polar world, where developing countries play a significant role.

6. India's Contributions to Global and Regional Initiatives: Jaishankar highlighted India's leadership in areas like renewable energy, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and sustainable living.

Initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Mission LiFE were presented as examples of how India’s national policies align with SCO's objectives for regional cooperation.

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