India Exposes Pakistan’s Terror Agenda at the SCO Meeting

The founding objectives of SCO, which came into existence in 2001 have been regional development, regional security, combatting regional terrorism, separatism and religious extremism. As the current chair of SCO, espousing India’s priorities New Delhi enunciated the vision ‘SECURE’ SCO which stands for Security, Economic Development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and Environmental Protection. Reiterating its commitment to SECURE SCO at the two-day Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting held on May 5, India proposed a joint statement on cooperation in De-radicalisation strategies, promotion of millets, sustainable lifestyles to address climate change and digital transformation¹.

Unequivocally asserting India’s position and bringing to fore New Delhi’s concerns, Jaishankar remarked, “While the world was engaged in facing COVID and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated. Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests. We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. The channel of finances for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked without distinction”.

Last week, at the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting, India discussed regional and international security and signed a declaration to make the region “stable, secure and prosperous” and condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations true to the guiding principles of SCO. In response, invoking the original “Shanghai Spirit”, Bilawal Bhutto, the first Pakistan foreign minister to visit India in 12 years highlighted the importance of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) that runs through the Indian territory violating her sovereignty as a “force multiplier of regional connectivity”. He also added, “CPEC offers all countries invested in the commonality of the future of this region to take the journey further and connect the dots towards full regional economic integration”².

As a characteristic quick repartee to India’s concerns on terrorism, Bilawal countered, “Terrorism continues to threaten global security. Let’s not get caught up in weaponizing terrorism for diplomatic point scoring”². On a day, when a dastardly state-sponsored cross-border terror attack claimed the lives of five Indian army personnel, incensed by the callousness and insensitivity, Jaishankar rebutted vehemently and called out Pakistan for its relentless attacks. “As a foreign minister of an SCO member state, Mr Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly. As a promoter, justifier and.. spokesperson of a terrorism industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan, his positions were called out and they were countered, including at the SCO meeting itself”.

Mincing no words, at the press briefing, a visibly aggressive Jaishankar said, “victims of terrorism do not sit with perpetrators of terrorism”. “The victims of terrorism defend themselves, counter acts of terrorism, they call it out, they delegitimise it and that is exactly what is happening”³.

Strongly objecting to Bilawal’s, “weaponizing terrorism” remark, Jaishankar pointed out, “It unconsciously reveals a mindset”, “What does weaponizing something mean?.. it means that the activity is legitimate. But it’s not. Now what are we doing? We are countering this, we are defending ourselves. We are calling it out. We are not scoring diplomatic points. We are politically and diplomatically exposing Pakistan before the world,”³.

Indeed, Bilawal used his visit to India to spew venom against India. Leveraging the maniacal media interest in the India-Pakistan tangle, Bilawal issued interviews to select media agencies with express instructions to make it public after his departure. Playing a victim card raising the issue of abrogation of Article 370, and deviating from the SCO agenda, Bilawal raked up bilateral issues like minority persecution in India. Though Pakistan has nothing to do with G20 meetings and Jammu & Kashmir, he condemned G20 meetings in Srinagar and issued an apparent threat.  Going ballistic at Pakistan for the insinuations, Jaishankar advised, “Wake up and smell the coffee, as article 370 is history” and said, “Pakistan’s credibility is depleting faster than its forex reserves”.

Jaishankar hit back at Pakistan’s Kashmir obsession and said, “Jammu & Kashmir was, is, will be a part of India. G20 meetings are held in all the Indian States and Union Territories and so it is completely natural that it is held there”. He also added, “there is only one issue to discuss on Kashmir which is when does Pakistan vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir”⁴. The sudden spurt of the terror attacks in Kashmir valley and the launch of a paramilitary force, Jabbaaz Force⁵ to derail the G20 meeting has inexorably underscored Pakistan’s weaponization of terror.

United in their strategic mission of encircling and launching a two-front war against India, it is thus no surprise that even China has abjectly whitewashed the tensions at the LAC at SCO bilateral meeting. Along the sidelines of the SCO CFM meeting, EAM Jaishankar held talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. Post-meeting Jaishankar stated, “The focus remains on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas”⁶. But the official statement of the Chinese foreign ministry noted- “China is willing to work with India to carry out bilateral consultations and exchanges, enhance dialogue and cooperation under multilateral frameworks, deepen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues and push China-India relations to the track of healthy and stable development”⁷. China’s deliberate attempts to project the border situation as stable notwithstanding zero progress in de-escalation and disengagement of troops at the frictional points elicited a stinging response from India.

Briefing the press, EAM Jaishankar said, “... issue is that there is an abnormal position in the border areas, along the boundary. We had a very frank discussion about it”. Puncturing China’s dishonest word games, he added, “We have to take the disengagement process forward. I have made it very clear, publicly as well, that India-China relations are not normal and cannot be normal if peace and tranquillity in the border areas are disturbed”⁸.

It is no secret that China effectively uses every platform to promote its agenda, SCO is no different. Characteristically pushing Beijing’s agenda, Qin Gang has put forth five proposals at the CFM⁹. These included- supporting each other in “safeguarding sovereignty, security and development interests, and oppose the attempts of external forces to interfere in regional affairs and plot colour revolutions”. Second, deepen security cooperation and safeguard regional peace including the crackdown on terrorism, extremism and separatism. Third, openness and inclusiveness; promote interconnected development through BRI. Fourth pursue fairness and justice through China’s Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative; finally, to make SCO more cohesive, effective and influential. These purported proposals are the values Beijing weaponises for its strategic ambitions.

Summarily, the all-weather partners, China and Pakistan have undermined SCO’s principles of peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect for territorial integrity, non-aggression, and counteracting terrorism with impunity which bedevilled the India-China and India-Pakistan relations as well.

Indeed, the symbolic double-speak of Pakistan and China joined at the hip in their anti-India was more glaring at the SCO meeting. Without any refrain, China had always sacrificed values to push its strategic agenda. To ensure regional security, the founding members of SCO resolved to combat terrorism, separatism, and religious radicalisation and established an organisational and legal framework for cooperation among the member states- Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in 2002. Given her vast experience, India has contributed immensely to RATS in terms of training personnel in counter-terrorism operations and coordinating with regional and international agencies.

As has been the case, China is now slowly turning SCO into a platform that could steadily gaslight the terror shenanigans of Pakistan. China thus far, provided diplomatic cover to Pakistan vetoing the proscribing of Pakistan’s terror modules like JeM, LeT etc. It has even condoned recent terror attacks against Chinese working in Pakistan to keep India under check. China’s approval of India’s full-time membership was subject to Pakistan’s entry to the SCO in 2017.

Over three decades in existence, SCO has acclaimed a reputation as a China club and India association with the SCO is often critiqued for the same reason. Representing 40% of the world’s population, SCO bodes well for India’s quest for multipolarity, connectivity with Central Asia, and engagement with the Eurasian region. Besides, with the rapid expansion of SCO on the anvil, India can expand its diplomatic footprint to a broader neighbourhood. With the joining of the two newest members Iran and Belarus, the 10-member strong SCO will have three observer countries- Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia and nine dialogue partners- Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Qatar, SCO is tipped to emerge as a powerful multilateral organisation.

As SCO envisions spreading its tentacles across the Eurasian and Asian realms India can use this opportunity to sensitise the members about Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism. The bluff of Pakistan’s posturing and the grandiose statements, “condemn all forms of terrorism including state-sponsored terrorism. Given, that many SCO members confront the menace of terrorism, often from the same terrorist groups, the SCO RATS needs to be further strengthened to effectively address the growing threats to peace and security in the SCO space” underscore the shallowness of Islamabad’s deception.

SCO objectively believes in building a platform for promoting mutual understanding, security and development through meaningful and beneficial cooperation. The spectre of the unabated cross-border terror attacks coinciding with the SCO meeting has pertinently raised more doubts about the organisation’s deliverance of various foundation declarations to stem this menace. To this end, India has exposed Pakistan and its dubious propaganda. The credibility of SCO would now be judged for its collective and coordinated actions and conviction in achieving its stated principles.

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