SCO will need to have an uncompromising place on terrorism, Jaishankar tells Foreign Ministers

The Pahalgam terrorist assault of April 22 was carried out to harm the Jammu and Kashmir economic system and to “sow a spiritual divide”, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) assembly in China, the place different SCO Ministers — together with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar — have been current, and known as for help to convey the perpetrators to justice.

On Tuesday (July 15, 2025), Mr. Jaishankar and the opposite SCO Ministers from Russia, Iran, Belarus and Central Asian states known as on Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) earlier than continuing to the SCO assembly in Tianjin by prepare. The External Affairs Minister additionally held bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, each of whom he met earlier this month on the BRICS summit in Brazil.

Mr. Jaishankar’s feedback got here a month after the SCO Defence Ministers’ assembly didn’t concern a joint assertion following variations over the references to terrorism. While no assertion was issued after the SCO Foreign Ministers’ assembly as properly, officers mentioned it was not the apply to take action, because the Foreign Ministers have been usually tasked with finalising the agenda for the Summit of leaders on August 31-September 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is predicted to journey to Tianjin for the summit, which might be his first such go to for the reason that Galwan clashes in 2020.

“The three evils that SCO was based to fight have been terrorism, separatism and extremism,” Mr. Jaishankar mentioned throughout his speech on the assembly, the place he referred to the Pahalgam terror assault during which 26 males, principally vacationers, have been religiously recognized and killed. “It was intentionally performed to undermine the tourism economic system of Jammu and Kashmir, whereas sowing a spiritual divide”, he added, calling for the SCO to take an “uncompromising place” on the problem of terrorism, and referring to the UN Security Council decision issued in April in regards to the assault.

A press assertion issued by the SCO Secretariat mentioned that the members “exchanged views on key areas of SCO cooperation, together with political, financial, commerce, cultural points and key worldwide and regional points”, however didn’t particularly point out terrorism.

Mr. Jaishankar’s assembly with Mr. Xi got here a day after he held bilateral talks in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and known as on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, the place he hailed the “continued normalisation” of India-China relations. The Minister mentioned that he had apprised President Xi of latest developments in bilateral relations. “I worth the steerage of our leaders in that regard”, he posted on X, referring to Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi.

Chinese state media reported that Mr. Xi had informed SCO Ministers that the organisation should play a “extra proactive position” to make sure stability in a “turbulent and altering worldwide panorama”. Most SCO international locations, particularly China and India, could be affected if U.S. President Donald Trump goes forward with a deliberate legislation imposing 500% tariffs on international locations importing Russian oil and sanctioned merchandise.

In his feedback throughout the SCO-CFM, Pakistan Foreign Minister Mr. Dar didn’t consult with the problem of terrorism. In a submit on social media, Mr. Dar mentioned that he “underscored the significance of upholding worldwide legislation and implementing related UNSC resolutions to resolve longstanding disputes”, on the assembly and that Pakistan sought peace with “all its neighbours”.

Referring to Afghanistan, which is an SCO observer state however has not been invited since 2021 when the Taliban regime took management of Kabul, Mr. Jaishankar mentioned that the “compulsions of regional stability are buttressed by [India’s] longstanding concern for the well-being of the Afghan folks” and known as for SCO members to extend improvement help.

Taking a swipe at Pakistan for closing transit for India-Afghanistan commerce, Mr. Jaishankar mentioned that the “lack of assured transit throughout the SCO house…undermines the seriousness of advocating cooperation in financial areas”, and advocated for the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that runs by Iran.