Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for “decisive action” against terrorism and urged leaders of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) nations in an apparent reference to Pakistan that the grouping must not hesitate to criticise countries supporting cross-border terrorism as an instrument of State policy. He also said there must not be any “double standards” in combating terrorist activities.
During a virtual summit of the SCO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a resolute message in the presence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Modi emphasised the necessity for “decisive action” to address terrorism and the financing of terrorist activities.
On the other hand, the Pakistan PM said the “hydra-headed monster” of terrorism and extremism whether committed by “individuals, groups or at State level” must be fought with full vigour and conviction, as he warned against using it as a cudgel for diplomatic point-scoring.
In his opening remarks, Modi said, “Terrorism remains a major threat to regional and global peace. Decisive action is necessary to meet this challenge. Terrorism may be in any form, in any manifestation and we have to fight together against it. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies; give shelter to terrorists. The SCO should not hesitate to criticise such countries. There should be no room for double standards on such a serious issue,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi also pitched for deeper mutual cooperation to deal with terror financing and noted that the SCO’s RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure) mechanism has played an important role in this. “We should also take more active steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among the youth of our countries. The joint statement being issued today on the issue of radicalisation is a symbol of our shared commitment,” he said.
Chairing the summit, Modi talked about the growing importance of the SCO and said, “It is our shared responsibility to understand each other’s needs and sensitivities and resolve all challenges through better cooperation and coordination.” The remarks came amid the lingering border row between India and China.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the need for boosting connectivity, but asserted that it is essential to respect the basic principles of the SCO charter, especially the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, while making such efforts.
There has been increasing global criticism of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has been severely critical of the BRI as the project includes the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir(POK).
On Afghanistan, Modi said the situation there has a “direct impact on the security of all of us” and it is important to ensure that Afghan territory is not used to destabilise neighbouring countries or to encourage extremist ideologies.
The theme of the SCO meeting was “SECURE”. It stands for S: Security, E: Economic development, C: Connectivity, U: Unity, R: Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and E: Environmental protection.
The Prime Minister also touched upon the global food, fuel and fertiliser crisis, highlighted the need for reform of the SCO and welcomed Iran as the new permanent member of the SCO.
The virtual summit under India’s presidency was attended by leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran as well.
On the situation in Afghanistan, Modi said India’s concerns and expectations regarding that country are similar to those of most of the SCO countries.
Modi said ensuring humanitarian assistance to Afghan people, formation of an inclusive government, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking and ensuring the rights of women, children and minorities in that country are “our shared priorities”.
The Prime Minister also favoured boosting regional connectivity and said, “Better connectivity not only increases mutual business but also increases mutual trust. But in these efforts, it is essential to respect the basic principles of the SCO Charter, especially the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states.”
“After Iran’s SCO membership, we can work for better utilisation of Chabahar Port. The International North-South Transport Corridor can become a safe and easy way for the landlocked countries of Central Asia to reach the Indian Ocean,” he said. “We should realise its full potential,” he added. India has been pushing for the Chabahar port project to boost regional trade, especially for its connectivity to Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Sharif said “the hydra-headed monster of terrorism and extremism - whether committed by individuals, societies or states - must be fought with full vigour and conviction. Any temptation to use it as a cudgel for diplomatic point-scoring must be avoided under all circumstances,” he said.
“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including State terrorism, must be condemned in clear and unambiguous terms. There can be no justification for the killing of innocent people regardless of the cause or pretext.”
He noted that while the sacrifices made by Pakistan in fighting the scourge of terrorism were without a parallel, the phenomenon continued to plague the region and was a “serious obstacle” to peace and stability.
He also talked about the issue of religious minorities and said that the practice of demonising religious minorities in the “pursuit of domestic political agendas” should be stopped, without naming any country.
Sharif also tried to rake up the Kashmir issue and highlighted the importance of UN resolutions to address the long overdue disputes.
He also talked about the three evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism and urged the SCO countries to take concerted and immediate actions, both in their national and collective capacity, to combat them.
Sharif also mentioned the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which he said could be a “game changer” for connectivity and prosperity in the region.
He also said stability in Afghanistan should be a common objective while Afghanistan should take measures to stop the use of its territory by any militant entity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the SCO member countries to safeguard regional peace and ensure common security besides focussing on pragmatic cooperation to speed up economic recovery.
He also underscored efforts to uphold multilateralism and improve global governance.
The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan became its permanent member along with India in 2017.