S. Jaishankar’s Sharp Remarks Target China and Pakistan at SCO Summit
At the SCO Summit held in Islamabad, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar issued a pointed critique aimed at China and Pakistan, highlighting the need for cooperation based on mutual respect, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. While addressing regional challenges, Jaishankar stressed that “good neighbourliness” was missing in certain relationships, referencing both Pakistan’s alleged state-backed terrorism and China’s unilateral actions along the Line of Actual Control.
Jaishankar called for a reaffirmation of commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Charter, emphasizing the fight against “the three evils”—terrorism, extremism, and separatism. He painted a picture of the economic and social gains the region could achieve if these issues were successfully addressed. Cooperation between SCO member states could lead to improved trade, energy, and people-to-people exchanges, Jaishankar noted, offering a vision of a more integrated and peaceful future for the region.
The remarks came amid ongoing strained relations between India and its neighbors, particularly due to cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and military standoffs with China. Jaishankar also emphasized that the current global landscape, marked by conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, presents challenges that require multilateral cooperation grounded in the principles of the SCO Charter.
In his brief visit to Islamabad, Jaishankar congratulated Pakistan on its presidency of the SCO and affirmed India’s support for a successful tenure.