- Jaishankar says India will defend itself against terrorism and demands global “zero tolerance.”
- He referenced Operation Sindoor, India’s military action after the Pahalgam terror attack.
- India blocked an SCO communique earlier for ignoring terrorism concerns.
- Jaishankar urged stronger economic partnerships and fair, transparent trade practices.
India pushed for modernizing the SCO and making English an official language. India has the right to defend its people from terrorism and will exercise that right whenever needed, Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday (19). He delivered the remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Moscow.
Jaishankar said the threat of terrorism has become more serious over the years and stressed that the world must show 'zero tolerance' toward all forms of terror. He reminded the members that the SCO was created to fight terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and said these dangers have only grown stronger.
His comments come about six months after India launched Operation Sindoor, a direct military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. India struck terror and military targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir between May 7 and May 10, using fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery before a ceasefire took effect.
Terrorism concerns had earlier caused India to block a joint communique at the SCO defense ministers' meeting in June. India refused to sign because the statement ignored the Pahalgam attack but mentioned issues like Balochistan.
The SCO discussions on Tuesday (19) also focused on trade, economic cooperation, and cultural ties. Jaishankar said the global economic situation is unpredictable and stressed the need to reduce risks by diversifying economic links. He said India aims to build fair and transparent trade partnerships and is working in free-trade agreements with several SCO members.
He also highlighted India's focus on people-to-people ties, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief. India has provided cancer treatment equipment, vaccines, medicines, and emergency assistance to SCO countries, including help during Afghanistan's recent earthquakes.
Jaishankar supports modernizing the SCO to handle new challenges like cyber threats, drug trafficking, and organized crime. He also urged the group to finally make English an official language to improve communication.
He noted that India and Russia are working to finalize agreements ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi in December for a bilateral summit.
