SCO Summit: “Menace of Terrorism Must Stop Including Cross-Border”, Jaishankar Talks Tough

GUWAHATI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that the threat of terrorism remains "persistent" and that it must be eradicated in every way and manifestation, including cross-border terrorism.

In his opening remarks at the Shanghai Corporation Organization's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting here today, Jaishankar stated that although the world was dealing with Covid and its effects, the threat of terrorism persisted. "Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests," he warned.

Foreign ministers from the SCO, a security alliance headed by Moscow and Beijing, have arrived in Goa, India, where they met on Friday to discuss increasing economic and security cooperation in the area. A summit of SCO leaders is scheduled for July.

Pakistan, India's archrival, is a member of the SCO as well. Its foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is the first high-level Pakistani official to visit India in nearly a decade.

Zardari's presence has sparked speculation of a thaw in the two South Asian countries' troubled relations, while both ministers have discounted the possibility of a bilateral meeting.

"The channel of terrorist activity must be seized and blocked without discrimination." "It is not necessary to remind members that combating terrorism is one of the SCO's original mandates," the external affairs minister remarked.

In his address to the SCO-CFMs conference, Jaishankar also sought member states' support for India's long-standing demand that English be designated as the SCO's third official language.

"I am pleased to note that the discussion on SCO reform and modernization issues has already begun." "I also seek member states' support for India's long-standing demand that English be designated as the third official language of the SCO in order to facilitate deeper engagement with English-speaking member states," Jaishankar said in Goa.

Jaishankar greeted Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with a "Namastey" earlier, ahead of the CFM meeting.

The video shows Jaishankar welcoming Zardari in Indian tradition with a "Namastey," rather than a handshake. Zardari stated upon his arrival in Goa yesterday that he is looking forward to meaningful conversations with his peers from friendly countries.

Jaishankar met with SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming earlier on Thursday and was scheduled to meet with Uzbekistan's foreign minister as well.

Russia and China established the SCO in 2001 as a counterweight to US alliances stretching from East Asia to the Indian Ocean. Russia believes the four Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to be its backyard.

India and Pakistan joined in 2017, and Iran is expected to join later this year.

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