As per various agency inputs, speaking about the challenges faced in the region, External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar made a veiled reference at 23rd SCO meet in Islamabad, “If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighborliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address.” He added, “It is only when we reaffirm our commitment most sincerely to the Charter then we can fully realize the benefits of cooperation and integration that it envisages.”
Addressing all the delegates, Mr Jaishankar also said that “Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. It should recognize territorial integrity and sovereignty. It must be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. It cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit.”
Mr Jaishankar’s remarks come at a time where relations both with China and Pakistan are severely strained due to issues of terrorism from Pakistan and military standoffs with China along the Line of Actual Control.
Ties between India and Pakistan have gone into a deep-freeze as India has made it clear that dialogue can happen only in an atmosphere “free of terror” and that the ball is now in Pakistan’s court for them to end the scourge of terrorism. As for China, ties have diminished to the very minimum after Beijing’s multiple unilateral actions along the Line of Actual Control over the last few years. There can be no cooperation when there is no trust, and that is what Mr Jaishankar highlighted in his subtle, yet clearly evident reference to the two neighbors.
Speaking about the “three evils- terrorism, extremism and separatism” that plague the world, Mr Jaishankar said, “Our endeavors will progress only when our commitment to the Charter remains firm. It is axiomatic that development and growth requires peace and stability. And as the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’. If activities across borders are characterized by these evils, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel.”
Giving a glimpse of how the region would be if these evils were addressed and countered successfully, Mr Jaishankar said, “Let us contemplate how much we all stand to gain if it was to be otherwise: Our very agenda today in Islamabad gives us a glimpse of those possibilities. Industrial cooperation can enhance competitiveness and expand labor markets. MSME collaboration has positive implications for employment. Our collective endeavors can expand resources and encourage investment flows. Business communities will profit through larger networks. Collaborative connectivity can create new efficiencies. The world of logistics, as indeed of energy, could undergo a sea change. Environmental protection and climate action are ready domains for mutually beneficial exchanges. The treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases will benefit from accessible and affordable pharmaceutical capabilities. Whether it is health, food or energy security, we are all clearly better off working together. Indeed, even culture, education and sports are promising areas. In effect, there is so much that we can do once we are truly determined to promote that synergy.”
The foreign minister further emphasized, “This is not just an endeavor for our own benefit. We all realize that the world is moving towards multi-polarity. Globalization and rebalancing are realities that cannot be denied. Cumulatively, they have created many new opportunities in terms of trade, investment, connectivity, energy flows and other forms of collaboration. There is no question that our region would benefit immensely if we take this forward. Not just that, others too would draw their own inspiration and lessons from such efforts.”
Speaking about cooperation and collective consideration among SCO member- states, Mr Jaishankar said, “It is imperative that we now renew our resolve to attain the objectives of the SCO. That means recognizing the current constraints on our cooperation and focusing on the pathway forward. It can surely happen when we develop and implement an agenda that is firmly based on an agreed mutuality of interests. To do that, it is equally essential that we abide by the do’s and don’ts so clearly articulated by the Charter.”
Speaking about the hurdles and challenges faced by most countries in today’s globalized-world, especially arising out of the two major conflicts – Israel’s conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, and the Russia-Ukraine war; Mr Jaishankar said “We meet at a difficult time in world affairs. Two major conflicts are underway, each with its own global repercussions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many in the developing world deeply devastated. Disruptions of various kinds – ranging from extreme climate events to supply chain uncertainties and financial volatility – are impacting growth and development. Debt is a serious concern, even as the world falls behind in achieving SDG targets. Technology holds great promise, as well as raising a new host of concerns. How should the members of the SCO respond to these challenges?”
The answers, he said, “lie in the Charter of our organization. And I urge you to reflect on Article 1 that spells out the goals and tasks of the SCO. Let me summarize it for our collective consideration. The objective is to strengthen mutual trust, friendship and good neighborliness. It is to develop multi-faceted cooperation, especially of a regional nature. It is to be a positive force in terms of balanced growth, integration and conflict prevention. The Charter was equally clear what the key challenges were. And these were primarily three, that the SCO was committed to combatting: one, terrorism; two, separatism; and three, extremism.”
Mr Jaishankar, whose visit to Islamabad for the SCO Summit was little over 24 hours, also congratulated Pakistan for Islamabad’s Presidency of the SCO Council of Heads of Government forum this year. He added that “India has extended its full support for a (Islamabad’s) successful presidency (of the forum).”
Leading India’s charge, External Affairs Minister (EMA) S Jaishankar had reached Islamabad (Pakistan) to attend 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government. In fact, India always remains actively engaged in the SCO format, including various mechanisms and initiatives within the SCO framework.
The meeting was kicked off with top-notch security measures in place. Further, the Ministry had made it clear that meeting was to focus on the trade and economic agenda of the organization, in common, without a bilateral talk.
The SCO CHG meeting is held annually and focuses on the trade and economic agenda of the organization. This meeting was chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Notable leaders from other SCO member states included Li Qiang, China’s Premier; Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko of Belarus; Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov of Kazakhstan; Prime Minister Akylbek Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan; Prime Minister Akylbek Zhaparov of Tajikistan; Prime Minister Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov of Uzbekistan; First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber of Iran. Special guests included foreign ministers and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Turkmenistan, along with the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, participating as an observer.
The crucial gathering concentrated on the bloc’s trade and economic agenda-as an important moment for regional cooperation. While Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad had sparked speculation regarding India-Pakistan relations; however, he clarified that ‘traveling to Pakistan solely was as a good member of the SCO’, his primary purpose was to engage in discussions related to the SCO.
As expected, EAM S Jaishankar repeated concerns raised by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at past SCO summits over terrorism and extremism in the region, as well as connectivity and transit issues.
What is the SCO?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China, aims to bolster mutual trust among member states, promote cooperation in trade, economics, science, and technology, and jointly uphold peace, security, and stability in the region.
Key members include India, Iran, China, Pakistan, and Russia, along with significant dialogue partners such as Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, the Maldives, Myanmar, the UAE, and Sri Lanka.
There’s consensus across all establishments for healthy ties with India, said Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. Mr. Kakar, a representative from Balochistan was the longest-serving caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan between August 2023 and March 2024. Mr. Kakar shared that EAM Jai Shankar’s visit to Pakistan is a reciprocal one. It can offer an opportunity to explore whether Delhi and Islamabad are ready for better ties.
While both sides ruled out any formal bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO event, the Minister participated in the dinner and exchanged pleasantries with host Shehbaz and counterpart Ishaq Dar, before the main summit.
It was not a fleeting visit, where Indian Minister S Jaishankar spent more than 24 hours before flying back to India. This was the first visit by any Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade.
India didn’t allow its differences with Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism, or even the border tensions with China, to come in the way of its participation in the Eurasian bloc that is seen as playing an important role in ensuring regional security. Russia’s presence in the group has also been a motivating factor for India. Chinese Premier Li Qiang was also present at the event.
Indian Minister represented PM Narendra Modi who had been invited by Shehbaz to participate in the meeting. However, PM Modi only participates in the heads of state summits, and normally deputes the foreign minister to stand in for him at the heads of government meetings.
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