S Jaishankar’s veils ‘three evils’ swipe at Pakistan during SCO Summit

By R Anil Kumar

• S Jaishankar emphasized that terrorism, extremism, and separatism hinder trade and connectivity

• The External Affairs Minister stresses SCO’s role in combatting terrorism and extremism

• Calls for peace, stability, and genuine partnerships for development

• Asserts cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality

Islamabad, Pakistan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on October 15, delivered a veiled message to Pakistan from its soil saying that activities across borders characterised by the “three evils” of terrorism, extremism and separatism will not encourage trade, connectivity and energy flows.

In his address at a conclave of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Jaishankar said, “Our endeavours will progress only when our commitment to the Charter remains firm. As the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils.’

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 in parallel.”

“It is axiomatic that development and growth requires peace and stability. And as the Charter spelt out, this means being firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils.’ 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 in parallel,” Jaishankar said at the two-day summit in Islamabad.

Jaishankar’s remarks in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suggesting the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and integrating it into a robust SCO connectivity framework, came amid the lingering military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh and concerns over China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the Indian Ocean and other strategic waters.

The corridor has been long opposed by India as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The External Affairs Minister stressed that SCO’s “primary goal of combatting terrorism, separatism and extremism is even more crucial in current times”.

He noted that globalisation and rebalancing are current day realities and SCO countries need to take this forward.

“It requires honest conversation, trust, good neighbourliness and reaffirming commitment to SCO Charter,” he asserted.

Delivering India’s national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, the minister further said, “Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty and be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. SCO cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit”.

Jaishankar also listed India’s global initiatives and national endeavours toward sustainability and holistic development, which include the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE which advocates sustainable lifestyle, the promotion of Yoga, Global Biofuel Alliance, International Big Cat Alliance, and similar efforts.

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The Minister noted that the world is going through “difficult times,” referencing “two major conflicts,” each with global repercussions, as well as the developing world’s struggle to recover from COVID-induced devastation, mounting debt, and other challenges. He emphasised that the solution lies in strengthening mutual trust, friendship, good neighbourliness, and fostering multi-faceted, especially regional, cooperation.

He also congratulated Pakistan for its presidency of the SCO summit this year and said India has extended its full support for a successful presidency.

Jaishankar led India’s delegation at the SCO summit, a forum of Eurasian countries for political, economic, international security, and defence cooperation. The visit marks the first by a senior Indian official to Pakistan in almost a decade; however, no bilateral talks were scheduled between India and Pakistan.