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At the 23rd SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar indirectly addressed China and Pakistan without naming them, calling for cooperation based on mutual respect and territorial integrity. His comments appeared to critique China's Belt and Road Initiative, which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a region India considers part of its territory. Jaishankar emphasized that genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas, should drive global connectivity projects, and that selective adherence to global trade and transit practices will not work.
Jaishankar also addressed the impact of terrorism, extremism, and separatism on cross-border trade, energy flows, and people-to-people exchanges. This was seen as a message to Pakistan, as India has maintained that dialogue and terrorism cannot coexist, rejecting Pakistan's calls for bilateral talks.
In his remarks, Jaishankar outlined the broader benefits of adhering to the SCO charter. He highlighted how industrial cooperation, MSME collaboration, and enhanced connectivity could drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve global logistics and energy efficiency. He also stressed the importance of collective action in areas like environmental protection, climate change, health, and food security.
Though his visit to Islamabad was significant as the first by a senior Indian minister in nine years, it was limited to the multilateral meeting, with no bilateral discussions planned with Pakistan.
