Jaishankar says if terrorism is an across border activity, don’t expect trade, connectivity

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday, without naming Pakistan, said if ‘activities across borders’ are characterised by ‘terrorism, extremism and separatism’, it does not encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

Jaishankar was speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit at Islamabad, Pakistan, where he also called upon the SCO to look at its own charter and have a “honest conversation” on the three evils –combatting  terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Without naming Pakistan, the minister mentioned the ‘three evils’ and said, “If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges”.

Jaishankar, who has often, at international forums, named Pakistan for being the “biggest exporter of terrorism”, referred to the SCO charter that commits to combatting terrorism, separatism and extremism. These goals are even more crucial, now, Jaishankar said, adding “It is, therefore, essential that we have an honest conversation”.

He added “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”.

Objective of the SCO was to strengthen mutual trust, friendship and good neighbourliness. Only a commitment to the SCO charter can fully realise the benefits of cooperation and integration that it envisages, Jaishankar said.

He made another important reference that was aimed at China, though he did not name Beijing. Globalisation and rebalancing are realities that cannot be denied, the minister said. Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. Jaishankar then went onto add “It (cooperation) should recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty. It must be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. It cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit.”

China is in territorial disputes with many countries including India. Beijing is also in a dispute over international laws that apply to transit through the sea routes in South China Sea.

Jaishankar said global institutions need to keep pace. That is why the case for “reformed multilateralism” gets stronger by the day. Comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, both in the permanent and non-permanent categories, is essential. 

The credibility and effectiveness of the UN is dependent on ensuring the representation of developing countries through comprehensive reform. The SCO must be in the lead of advocating such change, not hold back on a matter of such importance.

The ‘Pact for the Future’ which was adopted at the recent UN General Assembly, our leaders have agreed to reform the Security Council, to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable.

The SCO needs to recognise the current constraints on our cooperation and focusing on the pathway forward.