| While addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting at Moscow, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reminded member countries that it was founded to combat the three evils i.e. terrorism, separatism and extremism. His remarks came amid growing concern over recent terror incidents in India. On April 22 this year, 26 civilians were killed in a terror attack at Pahalgam in South Kashmir and more recently, on November 10, a car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort killed more than 10 people. Jaishankar during his address called for a coordinated effort to eliminate terrorism and reiterated India’s resolve to remain at forefront of efforts to eliminate terrorism. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. In July 2023, Iran became the new permanent member of the SCO at an India-hosted virtual summit of the grouping. Jaishankar’s call for a unified and uncompromising global stance is not just diplomatic rhetoric but a necessity shaped by harsh realities. As he stated, combating terrorism requires coordinated and sustained efforts no nation today is insulated from the ripple effects of radicalisation and violence. The SCO, with its vast geographical expanse and strategic heft, is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts. But this leadership must be grounded in sincerity, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to act against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, without exceptions or double standards. The SCO’s history reflects an evolving regional architecture designed to promote security, stability, and cooperation. The response towards terrorism needs to transcend the borders as the menace today is transnational. Its funding networks, propaganda machinery, recruitment channels, and operational structures have no boundaries. It’s important for the countries to share intelligence, cyber cooperation and border security mechanisms to curb terrorism. This cannot be achieved till a coordinated effort and mechanism is put in place to understand the threats and thwart them. The SCO must evolve into a more action-oriented platform where resolutions lead to results, not merely communiqués. As one of the world’s largest democracies and a nation that has suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists, India has every reason and responsibility—to lead this fight. Jaishankar’s assurance that India will remain at the forefront is both a commitment and a message: global security cannot be achieved unless the world unanimously rejects terrorism. |
