On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a significant speech at the 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of the Government in Islamabad – Pakistan. In his address, he emphasized the need to set up a relationship that leads to friendly relations and creates conditions necessary for development, which is stability. According to Jaishankar, activities associated with cross-border terrorism and extremism militate against trade, energy, and connectivity.
“They can only progress if the commitment to the Charter is steadfast,” Jaishankar emphasized. He noted that development and growth are not possible in the absence of peace and stability. According to the SCO Charter, he stressed the need to be consistent in battling the “three evils,” which include terrorism, extremism, and separatism. He cautioned that if cross-border activities are described that way, they will not contribute to the promotion of trade or the improvement of energy links or the people flow.
Besides deliberating on matters of stability in the region, Jaishankar said that there was a need to undertake the expansion of the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council by the inclusion of developing countries. He called on the SCO to demand reforms that would transform the UNSC into an organization that is more reflective of the current dispensation- democratic.
Interestingly, the current visit is the first one to Pakistan in nearly nine years by the Indian foreign minister, which will underline the hostile relations between the two countries primarily because of the Kashmir conflict and terrorist activities in India allegedly having their roots in Pakistan. Jaishankar is heading the Indian delegation at this crucial SCO meeting where the member countries can dialogue on issues affecting the region amidst incidents. The following remarks demonstrate India’s willingness to tackle these problems well while searching for positive synergies to develop both sides and stability within the region.
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