'If Trust Is Lacking...': In Pakistan, Jaishankar's Powerful SCO Speech Calls Out Cross-Border Terrorism

Delivering a strong message to Pakistan during the SCO meeting in Islamabad, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday slammed the country over the issue of cross-border terrorism, suggesting that it should introspect over reasons why the ties between the two neighbours have frayed.

During the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit, Jaishankar said, “If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if the friendship has fallen short and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address.”  Without directly mentioning Pakistan, the minister added, “If activities across borders are characterized by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel.”

India-Pakistan Relations

The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India’s warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The relations further deteriorated after India on August 5, 2019 announced the withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories.

Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India after New Delhi abrogated Article 370. India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such engagement.

Exchange of pleasantries

Jaishankar’s address comes a day after he exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, hours after landing in the Pakistani capital to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The brief exchange took place at a dinner reception hosted by Sharif at his residence in honour of the delegates of the SCO member countries.

Jaishankar and Sharif warmly shook hands and held a very brief interaction. The Pakistan prime minister greeted all the leaders of the delegations of the SCO member nations. Jaishankar’s aircraft landed at the Nur Khan airbase on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital city at around 3:30 pm (local time) and he was greeted by senior Pakistani officials.

It is the first time in nearly nine years that India’s foreign minister travelled to Pakistan even as the ties between the two neighbours remained tense over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Before Jaishankar left for Pakistan, India on Tuesday said it remains actively engaged in various mechanisms of the SCO. Pakistan is hosting the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit on October 15 and 16.