On Tuesday, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the terror attack that occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, during the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council in Tianjin. He emphasized that member nations must adhere to the founding principles of the organization and adopt a steadfast stance against terrorism. This visit marks Jaishankar’s first trip to China since the clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020. He referred to the attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, stating that it was intentionally executed to disrupt the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir and to create a religious divide. He highlighted that the UN Security Council, of which several member states are currently part, issued a strong condemnation of the attack and stressed the necessity of holding accountable those responsible, including the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of this abhorrent act of terrorism, as he spoke at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting. Jaishankar pointed out that the SCO was established to address three significant threats: terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which, he noted, often coexist. He asserted, “To remain faithful to its founding objectives, it is crucial for the SCO to adopt an unwavering stance on this issue.” Furthermore, Jaishankar highlighted the pressing need for regional collaboration based on mutual trust to stabilize the global order. He remarked that the world is progressing towards increased multipolarity, not only in terms of the redistribution of national capabilities but also through the rise of effective alliances such as the SCO. He concluded by stating, “Our capacity to influence global affairs will inherently rely on our ability to unite around a common agenda. This necessitates the inclusion of all parties involved,” as he advocated for enhancing cooperation within the SCO.
