Jaishankar slams cross-border terrorism at SCO summit in Islamabad, Pakistan PM in attendance

Our collective endeavours can expand resources and encourage investment flows, said the EAM.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday took an indirect dig at Pakistan during the SCO summit in Islamabad, saying that trade can hardly be encouraged if activities across borders are characterised by "terrorism, extremism and separatism."

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present at the meeting when Jaishankar made these remarks.

During his address, Jaishankar said that peace and stability are prerequisites to development and growth.

"Our endeavours will progress only when our commitment to the Charter remains firm. It is axiomatic that development and growth requires peace and stability. As the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’. If activities across borders are characterized by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel," he said.

Jaishankar exhorted SCO to be "firm and uncompromising" in countering the "three evils".

"SCO’s primary goal of combatting terrorism, separatism and extremism is even more crucial in current times. It requires honest conversation, trust, good neighborliness and reaffirming commitment to SCO Charter. SCO needs to be firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’," he said.

Jaishankar's statement calling out separatism and extremism also comes in the backdrop of the growing tensions between India and Canada after the latter alleged involvement of Indian diplomats in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has vehemently denied the charge and repeatedly called out Canada for harbouring pro-separatist elements on its soil.

The external affairs minister further said that cooperation should be based on "mutual respect" and emphasised the need to recognise "territorial integrity".

The remarks were seen as an indirect reference to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (Pok). India has raised objections to CPEC in the past.

Jaishankar stressed on the need for introspection if the trust is lacking between countries.

"If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address. Equally, it is only when we reaffirm our commitment most sincerely to the Charter that we can fully realize the benefits of cooperation and integration that it envisages. This is not just an endeavor for our own benefit," he said.

He also spoke about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the Middle Eastern tensions, saying that the SCO meeting is taking place at a difficult time in world affairs.

"Two major conflicts are underway and each has global repercussions," the foreign minister said.

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif greeted Jaishankar with a warm handshake and exchanged pleasantries with him ahead of the summit.

Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan is a first by an Indian foreign minister in over 9 years.

Pakistan is hosting the SCO meeting under tight security and the capital city has almost been under lockdown. The main conclave is being held on Wednesday.

Jaishankar arrived in the Pakistan capital on Tuesday evening.