Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council meeting was immediately amended – to reflect the country’s official stance – after his Indian counterpart accused Pakistan of cross-border terror.
Jaishankar, in his address at a conclave of the SCO, said taking eyes off terrorism would be detrimental to security interests of the grouping – in an attempt to link terrorism in Afghanistan with Pakistan.
However, India’s attempt to disrupt the atmosphere met with a swift and decisive response, after Bilawal stated: “We should refrain from using terrorism as a tool for scoring diplomatic points”. He said it is imperative that willful provocations and incitement to hate, especially on religious grounds, are roundly condemned.
“It’s our collective duty to fight against fascism and historical revisionism that is leading to violent ultra nationalism anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that “We must ensure that racism and xenophobic ideologies, have no place in today’s world”.
Bilawal further added that fundamental human rights and freedoms are guaranteed to all. “Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism,” stated Bhutto. He said Pakistan is firmly committed to be part of regional and global efforts for eradicating this menace.
Commenting on the poverty situation in the SCO region, he called for collective efforts to mitigate financial sufferings of the people of the member states. The 34-year-old said we can only overcome this challenge through common efforts and by learning from each other’s experiences.
Regarding the adverse impact of the climate change, the Foreign Minister said the developed world must fulfill its commitment of providing 100 billion dollars annually for climate finance. The Foreign Minister said Pakistan strongly believes in and fully adheres to the principles of mutual trust, equality, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of shared development enshrined in the original “Shanghai Spirit.”
“We believe the SCO could be a key platform for taking this vision of Eurasian connectivity to the next level,” he emphasized, adding that Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit for the whole region.
Bilawal Bhutto emphasized that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is crucial for fostering economic cooperation and maintaining global peace and stability.
During the speech, in the presence of China’s Qin Gang and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, the federal minister highlighted the enduring historical, cultural, civilizational, and geographical bonds between all member countries
“Pakistan has made greater efforts than any other nation to eradicate terrorism,” he asserted.
In addition, Bilawal Bhutto stated that any breach of Security Council resolutions goes against the objectives of the council and violates international laws.
Indian external affairs minister Jaishankar welcomed Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting being held in Goa, India.
This is an important event, as it provides an opportunity to discuss key issues with his counterparts from other countries.
“I am pleased to note that the discussion on issues of reform and modernization of SCO has already commenced,” said Jaishankar at meet.
Yesterday, in a video message, Bilawal said he looks forward to constructive discussions with his counterparts from friendly countries.
