External affairs minister S Jaishankar with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Goa (TIP)- External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday, May 4, talked tough on cross-border terrorism and stressed the need to seize and block the channel of finances for terror activities. Addressing the opening segment of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, Jaishankar highlighted the multitude of challenges faced by the world, including disruptions in global supply chains, due to the Covid pandemic and geopolitical upheavals.
“While the world was engaged in facing Covid and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated. Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests. We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism,” Jaishankar said.
“The channel of activities for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked without distinction. Members need not be reminded that combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of the SCO.” the minister added.
Jaishankar noted that the unfolding situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power “remains at the centre of our attention,” adding that the efforts should be directed towards the welfare of the Afghan people.
“Our immediate priorities include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, and preserving rights of women, children and minorities.”
Earlier, Jaishankar greeted Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari with a “Namastey” ahead of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting of the Shangai Cooperation Organisation. Visuals showed the Jaishankar greeting Zardari in Indian tradition with a “Namastey”, avoiding a handshake.
“I am happy to arrive in Goa for participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. I am leading the Pakistan delegation at SCO and hope that the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will be successful,” Zardari said in a video on Thursday shared by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson. India–China border stable, both sides should push for its further cooling, easing: Chinese FM Qin to Jaishankar
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang reiterated that the situation at the India-China border is generally stable and both sides should consolidate the present achievements and strictly abide by the relevant agreements while pushing for further cooling and easing of the conditions for sustainable peace and tranquillity at the frontier.
In his talks with External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar at Benaulim in Goa on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting on Thursday, May 4, Qin restated China’s oft-repeated recent stance that the current situation on the China-India border is generally stable, in an apparent reference to the ongoing military standoff in Eastern Ladakh which brought the relations to standstill.
Qin said the two sides should continue to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, consolidate the existing achievements, strictly abide by relevant agreements, push for further cooling and easing of the border situation and maintain sustainable peace and tranquillity in the border areas, a press release on Qin-Jaishankar talks issued here on Friday said.
In a tweet after the talks, Jaishankar said the focus remained on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas. “A detailed discussion with State Councillor and FM Qin Gang of China on our bilateral relationship. Focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” he said.