 "External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin, China, on Tuesday. Image Courtesy: @DrSJaishankar")
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on his counterparts at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to take a firm and united stand against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the “three evils” that the group was originally formed to fight.
Addressing the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin, he said that the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam was a recent example of these forces acting in unison.
“The three evils that SCO was founded to combat were terrorism, separatism and extremism. Not surprisingly, they often occur together. Recently, we in India witnessed a graphic example in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. It was deliberately conducted to undermine the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, while sowing a religious divide,” said Jaishankar.
“The UN Security Council condemned it in the strongest terms and underlined the need to hold perpetrators and sponsors accountable,” he said, adding, “We have since done exactly that and will continue to do so.”
He called on SCO members to take an “uncompromising position” against terrorism, warning that failure to act decisively would betray the organisation’s founding mission.
“It is imperative that the SCO, to remain true to its founding objectives, take an uncompromising position on this challenge,” said Jaishankar.
Impact Shorts
View AllJaishankar also highlighted India’s constructive engagement with the SCO, citing initiatives in startups, innovation, traditional medicine, and digital public infrastructure.
“India has taken several initiatives in the SCO in domains ranging from startup and innovation to traditional medicine and digital public infrastructure. We will continue to positively approach new ideas and proposals that are genuinely for our collective good. It is essential that such cooperation is based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and in accordance with territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states,” he added.
On regional connectivity, the minister flagged the lack of assured transit within the SCO as a major hurdle, calling for progress on key initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
“Deepening collaboration within the SCO naturally requires more trade, investment and exchanges. For that to move to the next level, it is imperative that we address some current issues. One of them is the lack of assured transit within the SCO space. Its absence undermines the seriousness of advocating cooperation in economic areas. Another is to ensure the promotion of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC). We are confident that it will continue to gather momentum,” said the External Affairs Minister.
He further urged the SCO to step up development assistance for Afghanistan, underlining both humanitarian concerns and the importance of regional stability.
“Afghanistan has been long on the SCO agenda. The compulsions of regional stability are buttressed by our longstanding concern for the well-being of the Afghan people. The international community, particularly SCO members, must therefore step up with development assistance. India, for its part, will certainly do so,” said Jaishankar.
Jaishankar noted the world’s shift toward greater multipolarity and called for unity within the SCO to shape global affairs effectively.
“Our ability to contribute depends on how well we come together on a shared agenda,” he said.
With inputs from agencies