ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stuck to his guns on most of the key issues – involving China and Pakistan, as well – during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. India’s biggest concerns over sovereignty and terrorism, while not by name – China and Pakistan, he said at the summit. He also emphasized the importance of not crossing other people’s territorial lines, but the pointed reference to the challenges of cross-border terrorism remains an agenda item straining relations with India and Pakistan.
Jaishankar said peace and stability in the region depend on mutual respect for sovereignty as well as international cooperation against terrorism. India has long condemned Pakistan for backing terrorist activities against Indian soil. Since March 2020, tensions with China have also remained at a boiling point over a prolonged border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
India’s refusal to hold bilateral talk at summit level with Islamabad showed some deep-seated disagreement between two neighbors. Pakistan being present at SCO, New Delhi officials agreed that engagement with Islamabad would be allowed if it takes place in a conducive environment without terrorism.
Apart from security concerns, Jaishankar addressed the importance of global institution reforms, including the UNSC, calling for a more inclusive and representative system, which would account for the shifting balance of global order. The permanent seat in UNSC has been India’s long-standing demand, with the stated objective of capitalizing on India’s growing role in the global geopolitical calculus.
The SCO is a Eurasian political and security alliance comprising China, Russia, and several Central Asian countries. India became a full member in 2017 and has been proactive in using this platform to place before others various issues, including terrorism and questions of territorial claims.
Although this summit was more of an economic bonding opportunity, the security debate cannot be ignored in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. China and Pakistan do have interests in a stable Afghanistan, but India can’t ignore the growing increase of radical elements in the region.