Indian minister takes a veiled jibe at Pakistan to state that nefarious activities across borders are “hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel”
Our Bureau
Islamabad
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called for introspection if friendship between the two nations has fallen short or good neighbourliness is missing.
In his address at the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad, Jaishankar said, “If we fast-forward from the inception of the Charter to the situation today, these goals and these tasks are even more crucial. It is, therefore, essential that we have an honest conversation.”
Jaishankar arrived in the neighbouring country on Tuesday for a two-day visit to attend the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. The two-day SCO Meeting is being chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif as the current chair of the Council.
“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. Equally, it is only when we reaffirm our commitment most sincerely to the Charter that we can fully realize the benefits of cooperation and integration that it envisages,” he added.
He termed cross-border terrorism, extremism and separatism as the “three evils” that hinder trade and people-to-people relations between countries.
He took a veiled jibe at Pakistan to state that 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.”
“We all realize that the world is moving towards multi-polarity. Globalization 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. Not just that, others too would draw their own inspiration and lessons from such efforts,” he said in his address.
“However, to do that, 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,” the External Affairs Minister said.
Calling for firm commitment to the SCO Charter, Jaishankar said, “But most of all, our endeavours will progress only when our commitment to the Charter remains firm. 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.”
Jaishankar said that India’s initiatives and national endeavours are “strongly relevant” for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). He said that the International Solar Alliance promotes renewable energy while the Global Biofuel Alliance recognizes the task of energy transition.
Elaborating on India’s initiatives, he said, “From an Indian perspective, our own global initiatives and national endeavours are also strongly relevant for the SCO. The International Solar Alliance promotes renewable energy. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure prepares us for climate events. Mission LiFE advocates a sustainable life-style.”
“India taking lead in making sure a multipolar world should be born”
West Asia Strategist Waiel Awwad stated that India has been taking the lead towards the birth of a multipolar world and highlighted the presence of India and the rest of the South in such forums like the SCO.
Speaking on Wednesday, Awwad noted the Shanghai expansions as well as the BRICS expansion, providing a clear indication of how the South wants to have its voice. “I think India is taking the lead in making sure that this sort of multipolar world should be born and where India and the rest of the South country can be present in that forum. And we noticed that of the Shanghai expansions and also a core organisation expansion, and also the BRICS expansion, that’s also a clear indication that the South wanted to have its voice,” he said.
He also lauded External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s address during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting of the Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad, where the EAM termed cross-border terrorism, extremism and separatism as the “three evils” that hinder trade and travel as well as people-to-people relations between countries.
Awwad highlighted the ongoing conflicts, particularly in Russia-Ukraine, West Asia and the Middle East, and said that it was crucial for such forums as the SCO to address and express such issues.
