PTI | Moscow
India on Tuesday said that the world must display “zero tolerance” towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, asserting that there can be no justification, no looking away and “no whitewashing”.
“As India has demonstrated, we have the right to defend our people against terrorism, and will exercise it,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting here.
Jaishankar said India believes that the SCO must “adapt to the changing global landscape, develop an expanded agenda, and reform its working methods”.
“We will contribute positively and fully to these objectives,” he said.
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.
“We must never forget that the SCO was founded to combat the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism. These threats have become even more serious in the years that have passed,” he said.
“It is imperative that the world displays zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There can be no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing,” the EAM said.
The Russian Embassy in India stated, “On November 18, in New Delhi, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia Nikolai Patrushev was received by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday
called for enhancing the credibility and clout of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as an association of greater Asia for economic development and cooperation among the member states.
Putin is expected to visit India in December for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. He last visited India in December 2021 to attend the 21st edition of the meeting.
