Lagatar24 Desk
Islamabad: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a pointed message to Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad on Wednesday, calling out cross-border activities marked by the “three evils” of terrorism, extremism, and separatism. He stressed that such actions will hinder trade, connectivity, and energy exchanges.
In his address, Jaishankar said, “Our endeavours will progress only when our commitment to the Charter remains firm. As the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’. If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism, and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel.”
The minister emphasized that trade and connectivity must respect territorial integrity and sovereignty, calling for an “honest conversation” about the lack of trust among SCO member nations.
His comments were seen as a response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and integrate it into the SCO connectivity framework—something India has long opposed, as CPEC runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Jaishankar’s remarks came amid continuing military tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh and growing concerns over China’s assertive military presence in the Indian Ocean.
S Jaishankar’s Historic Visit to Pakistan
Jaishankar’s participation in the summit marked the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in almost a decade. The Indian delegation was warmly received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other SCO leaders at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
During the summit, Jaishankar underscored the importance of mutual respect and sovereign equality, calling for collective progress built on trust and genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas—a subtle jab at China’s increasing influence in regional affairs.
