New Delhi, Islamabad, 16 October, 2024: In the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan since 2015, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that Pakistan needs to maintain territorial integrity and mutual respect during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Jaishankar called for cooperation based on “genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas,” while labeling terrorism, extremism, and separatism as the “three evils” that undermine stability.
Addressing global challenges, Jaishankar pointed to conflicts like the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah and Russia-Ukraine wars, alongside the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This summit comes at a difficult time in world affairs,” he remarked, underlining the impact of climate change, supply chain disruptions, and financial instability on growth and development.
“Debt is a serious concern, even as the world falls behind in achieving Sustainable Development targets,” Jaishankar added.
Jaishankar also stressed that activities like terrorism and extremism across borders disrupt trade, energy flows, and connectivity.
“Such activities are unlikely to encourage regional development,” he warned, urging SCO members to work together to promote growth and prevent conflict.
Arriving in Pakistan on Tuesday, Jaishankar was greeted at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase by Ilyas Mehmood Nizami, Director General for South Asia in Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Children in traditional attire presented him with flowers, according to media reports.
Later, Jaishankar briefly interacted with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during an official dinner held for summit attendees. Sharif, chairing the two-day SCO meeting, advocated for the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to strengthen regional cooperation.
“Flagship projects like the Belt and Road Initiative…should be expanded to enhance integration and cooperation across our region,” Sharif said.
He noted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would further boost collaboration, especially among SCO nations, which represent 40% of the world’s population.
Sharif called on leaders to “exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge concrete action plans” to improve the economies and societies of SCO countries.
He expressed hope for “wonderful outcomes” from the meeting’s discussions.
The SCO, which includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations, represents about 40% of the global population and 30% of its GDP.
