Daijiworld Media Network - Moscow

Moscow, Nov 18: In Moscow on Tuesday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar used his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Heads of Government meeting to underscore India’s uncompromising position against terrorism. He reminded member nations that the SCO was created to confront terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and noted that these threats have only intensified. Jaishankar stressed that the global community must adopt absolute zero tolerance, insisting there can be no justification or attempts to overlook or rebrand terrorism. He affirmed that India will always act to safeguard its people from such threats.

Speaking at the annual CHG meeting—SCO’s second-highest decision-making platform—Jaishankar also highlighted the importance of genuine connections among societies. He said India, as a civilisational nation, sees cultural and interpersonal exchanges as essential to building trust. He pointed to India’s collaborative cultural initiatives, including exhibitions of sacred Buddhist relics in several SCO countries, and expressed India’s readiness to share its expertise in heritage conservation with Central Asian partners.

The minister voiced India’s support for a reform-driven agenda within the SCO, welcoming initiatives that tackle organised crime, narcotics, and cyber threats. He emphasised that as the organisation grows more diverse, it must also evolve—starting with prioritising the overdue step of adopting English as an official working language.

Addressing economic concerns, Jaishankar observed that the global landscape is marked by volatility and uncertainty, with supply-side vulnerabilities compounded by complex demand-side pressures. He argued that nations must work to derisk and diversify their economic engagements by expanding fair, transparent, and balanced partnerships. India’s ongoing efforts to negotiate free trade agreements with several SCO members, he said, align with this broader objective.