There should be no “whitewashing” of terror by the global community, S. Jaishankar has said
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has called on the global community to show “zero tolerance” toward terrorism.
Speaking at the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow on Tuesday, Jaishankar said the grouping was founded to combat the three evils of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
“It is imperative that the world displays zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said. “There can be no justification, no looking away, and no whitewashing.”
Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi’s position that India has the right to defend its people against terrorism and that it will exercise it.
❗️ “SCO Founded to Combat the Three Evils of Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism” – 🇮🇳 EAM Jaishankar’s Opening Remarks at SCO Meeting in Moscow
He also said the global economic situation was uncertain and volatile, adding that supply-side risks have been aggravated by demand-side complexities.
“There is consequently an urgent need to derisk and diversify. This is best done by as many of us forging the widest possible economic links,” the Indian foreign minister stated.
The SCO meeting, being chaired by Russia, is focusing on the deliberations between member countries as well as the implementation of its decisions, including at the summit in Tianjin, China, earlier this year.
The Tianjin summit was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, Jaishankar held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, where they discussed the upcoming bilateral summit between Modi and Putin next month in India.
At their talks, Lavrov said Russia and India were setting up transport and logistic chains not subject to external influence.
Putin’s planned visit to India comes amid Western pressure over the close ties between Moscow and New Delhi. The US has imposed a 50% tariff on India, including a punitive 25% levy for Russian oil imports, accusing New Delhi of “funding” the Ukraine conflict through oil purchases.
