Recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty: S Jaishankar at SCO meet in Pakistan

Jaishankar said on Wednesday, "Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, recognize territorial integrity and sovereignty and be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. SCO cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit."

Jaishankar is on his first visit to Pakistan, which is the hostile neighbour of India.

Sushma Swaraj was the last External Affairs Minister of India to tour to Pakistan and the visit dates way back to 2015.

In his statement at the SCO Council of Heads of government meeting, Jaishankar emphasised the need to combat "terrorism, separatism and extremism".

The External Affairs Minister said, "SCO’s primary goal of combating terrorism, separatism and extremism is even more crucial in current times. It requires honest conversation, trust, good neighborliness and reaffirming commitment to SCO Charter. SCO needs to be firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’."

He added, "Globalization and rebalancing are current day realities. There's a need for SCO countries to take this forward."

Jaishankar began his two-day visit to Pakistan on Tuesday. He was welcomed by Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, Director General (South Asia) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan.

The SCO Council of Heads of Government is chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Other key points of Jaishankar's address

Industrial cooperation can enhance competitiveness and expand labour markets. MSME collaboration, collaborative connectivity, environmental protection and climate action are possible avenues. Whether it is health, food or energy security, we are clearly better off working together.

Indian initiatives and endeavors like DPI, women-led development, ISA, CDRI, Mission LiFE, GBA, Yoga, Millets, International Big Cat Alliance etc. hold strong relevance for the SCO.

SCO should lead by advocating that global institutions need to keep pace through reformed multilateralism to make UNSC more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable.

To renew our resolve to attain the objectives of the SCO, it is essential that we keep in mind mutuality of interests and abide by the do’s and don’ts of the Charter.

SCO represents the forces of change on whom much of the world puts great store. Let us live up to that responsibility.