EAM Jaishankar slams global terrorism at SCO

Delivering a firm message on the global stage, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday stressed that terrorism in any form deserves complete and uncompromising rejection from the international community, with no room for excuses, selective silence, or attempts to downplay its severity. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Moscow, Jaishankar declared, “India has shown, and will continue to show, that we retain the full sovereign right to protect our citizens from terrorist threats and will exercise that right without hesitation.” He urged the SCO to evolve with the times, broaden its agenda, and modernise its operational framework, pledging India’s constructive and wholehearted support to these reforms.

Reaffirming the organisation’s founding purpose, the minister reminded members that the SCO was established in 2001 specifically to confront the “three evils” - terrorism, separatism, and extremism - threats he described as having grown more dangerous over the years.

“There must be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its manifestations across the world. No justification, no turning a blind eye, and certainly no whitewashing,” Jaishankar asserted. External Affairs Minister further emphasised that, in an age dominated by climate crises, pandemics and armed conflicts, deeper humanitarian cooperation among nations has become more vital than ever.

Reiterating India’s civilisational outlook, he said New Delhi firmly believes that authentic and enduring relationships between countries are built first and foremost on vibrant people-to-people connections.

The Minister also offered India’s extensive expertise in heritage conservation - already successfully applied across Southeast Asia - to the countries of Central Asia, expressing India’s readiness to share its knowledge and experience with SCO partners in preserving their rich cultural legacies.

Turning to the economic challenges facing the world, he described the current global situation as highly uncertain and volatile, with supply-chain vulnerabilities compounded by fluctuating demand. He called for urgent de-risking and diversification of economic ties, emphasising that such efforts must remain fair, transparent and equitable.