https://arab.news/cfpy8
- Indian external affairs minister says SCO must take lead in demanding UN Security Council reforms
- He says it is important to recognize the constraints on cooperation and focus on the pathway forward
ISLAMABAD: Indian External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar spoke about a lack of trust and good neighborliness within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) while addressing the regional summit in Islamabad on Wednesday, saying the issue had been preventing collaboration and integration among member nations.
In the first visit by an Indian minister since Sushma Swaraj in 2015, Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan a day earlier to attend the SCO meeting and had a brief interaction with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan had extended an invitation to Indian Premier Narendra Modi to attend the event, though New Delhi decided its delegation would be led by its top diplomat.
Jaishankar made his statement to the forum shortly after the Pakistani PM delivered his keynote speech, in which he called for regional connectivity and economic integration, urging member states to rise above their political considerations for the prosperity of the region.
The Indian minister referred to the SCO charter, noting that the regional organization sought greater cooperation, but also highlighted three major challenges of “terrorism, separatism and extremism.”
“It is … essential that we have an honest conversation,” he told the forum. “If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighborliness 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,” he added.
Jaishankar also urged the SCO to take cognizance of rapid global changes, noting that India had been advocating for the representation of developing nations at the United Nations Security Council, “both in the permanent and non-permanent categories.”
“The SCO must be in the lead of advocating such change, not hold back on a matter of such importance,” he added.
The Indian minister emphasized the need for SCO member nations to renew their commitment to achieving the objectives outlined in the organization’s charter.
“That means recognizing the current constraints on our cooperation and focusing on the pathway forward,” he added.