Briefing the press after the SCO meet at Goa, Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar called out Pakistan's position on terrorism at the meet. In an all-out attack, Jaishankar called his Pakistan counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari "promoter, justifier and a spokesperson" of the terrorism industry.
On Bhutto Zardari's comments on tackling terrorism, Jaishankar said Pakistan's credibility in dealing with is depleting even faster than their forex reserves.
#WATCH | On Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's arrival in India, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "He came here as the Foreign Minister of an SCO Member State. That is part of multilateral diplomacy. Don't see it as anything more than that. I think that nothing from what… pic.twitter.com/9vEIVw3iKS
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023
Asked whether there could be talks between India and Pakistan on combating the menace, the external affairs minister said, "Victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism.”
Jaishankar also asserted that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and will" always be part of India.
The external affairs minister said Bhutto Zardari came to India as foreign minister of an SCO member state and it is part of multilateral diplomacy. "Do not see it as anything more than that," he added. He added, “As a foreign minister of an SCO member state, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly.”
On the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Jaishankar said it was made very clear that connectivity is good for progress, but it cannot violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. He said as a foreign minister of an SCO member state, Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly.
In his opening remarks at the conclave, Jaishankar said, “With more than 40 per cent of the world's population within the SCO, our collective decisions will surely have a global impact.”
Jaishankar said, “While the world was engaged in facing COVID and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated. Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests. We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.”
He added all financial channels for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked without distinction. “Members need not be reminded that combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of the SCO. The unfolding situation in Afghanistan remains at the centre of our attention. Our efforts should be directed towards the welfare of the Afghan people. Our immediate priorities include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar said, ”India has proposed a New Delhi Declaration as an SCO Summit Declaration and four other thematic joint statements on cooperation in de-radicalization, strategies, promotion of millets, sustainable lifestyles to address climate change and digital transformation.”
(With PTI inputs.)
