Moscow [Russia], November 18 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met Russian President Vladimir Putin along with other heads of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) delegations and used his address at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting to deliver a firm message on terrorism, global economic instability, and the need for organisational reform.
“Called on President Putin along with other Heads of SCO Delegations this afternoon,” the EAM said in a post on X.
During his address at the SCO meeting, Jaishankar strongly reaffirmed India’s uncompromising stance on terrorism, declaring that there can be “no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing” of terror in any form. He emphasized that India has the sovereign right to defend its citizens and called for a “zero tolerance” approach to terrorism.
“We must never forget that the SCO was founded to combat the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism. These threats have become even more serious in the years that have passed. It is imperative that the world displays zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” Jaishankar said.
“There can be no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing. As India has demonstrated, we have the right to defend our people against terrorism and will exercise it. In conclusion, India believes that SCO must adapt to the changing global landscape, develop an expanded agenda and reform its working methods. We will contribute positively and fully to these objectives,” he added.
Jaishankar’s remarks come amid heightened concerns over rising terrorist activities, including two recent incidents in India. On April 22, 26 civilians were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy organization affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). On November 10, a car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort killed at least 15 people, which the Union Cabinet later confirmed as a “terror incident.”
The EAM urged the SCO to uphold its founding principles and adopt a unified, robust approach to combating terrorism. He also pressed for organisational modernization, greater flexibility, fresh thinking, and long-pending reforms, including making English an official language of the SCO.
“Let me now turn to the modernisation of the SCO. As the organisation continues to evolve, India strongly supports its reform-oriented agenda. We welcome centres addressing challenges such as organised crime, drug trafficking, and cybersecurity. As the organisation becomes more diverse, the SCO must be more flexible and more adaptable. To this end, the long-delayed decision to make English an official language of the SCO must be prioritised,” he said.
He added that India’s initiatives, such as the SCO Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and the SCO Startup Forum, reflect New Delhi’s efforts to promote innovation and creativity, especially among youth.
Currently, Russian and Chinese are the official working languages of the SCO.
Turning to economic issues, Jaishankar warned that the global economic environment remains “particularly uncertain and volatile,” pointing to heightened supply-side risks and complex demand-side challenges. He underscored the urgent need for countries to de-risk and diversify supply chains and ensure that trade remains fair, transparent, and equitable.
“There is consequently an urgent requirement to de-risk and diversify. This is best done by as many of us forging the widest possible economic links. For that to happen, it is essential that this process be fair, transparent and equitable. India’s endeavours to conclude free trade arrangements with many of you here are relevant,” Jaishankar said.
He also highlighted India’s efforts to advance free trade agreements with several SCO partners.
On cultural and humanitarian cooperation, the EAM underscored India’s deep civilisational ties with the SCO region and called for expanded people-to-people engagement. He cited India’s exhibitions of sacred Buddhist relics abroad and expressed New Delhi’s willingness to share its heritage conservation expertise with Central Asian nations.
“As a civilisational state, India strongly believes that people-to-people exchanges lie at the core of any genuine relationship. Facilitating greater interaction between our intellectuals, artists, sportspeople, and cultural icons will pave the way for a deeper understanding across the SCO,” he said.
He also recalled India’s humanitarian outreach during the pandemic, including the deployment of cancer treatment equipment, vaccines, and medical supplies, as well as rapid relief assistance to earthquake-hit Afghanistan.
Following his address, Jaishankar held brief interactions on the sidelines of the summit, including a “quick chat” with Mongolia’s Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Jaishankar later thanked Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for hosting the summit and expressed gratitude for the “hospitality and warmth of welcome.”
The 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government was held in Moscow on November 17 and 18. The SCO comprises 10 member states: India, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, along with several observers and dialogue partners.
India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 after serving as an Observer since 2005.
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