ISLAMABAD – Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the Heads of Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Speaking at the SCO summit in Islamabad, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar stated that India would fully cooperate with Pakistan during its tenure of SCO presidency.
“Our meeting is taking place at a time when the world is going through a challenging period. Two major conflicts are ongoing, affecting the entire world. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted developing countries. SCO member states are facing various challenges, including debts.”
He further mentioned that the core objectives of the SCO Charter are to promote mutual trust, friendship, and harmonious relations with neighboring countries.
Regionally, he said it encompassed cooperation on multiple fronts. The challenges outlined in the charter are also clearly emphasized.
SCO, he said, resolved to address three major and fundamental challenges: terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
He added that “if we look at the SCO Charter in the context of the current situation, the importance of tackling these three challenges increases even more,”.
He said honest dialogue with each other is essential to overcome these challenges. If the lack of mutual trust or insufficient cooperation leads to strained relations and friendship with neighbors, it is crucial to identify and eliminate the causes behind this.
