New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday implicitly attacked China over Pakistan’s record on terrorism and connectivity related to the Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan-Kashmir, telling the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit that cross-border terrorism requires a “firm response” and national sovereignty must be respected in connectivity projects.
Modi’s comments were made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, which was attended by several heads of state, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, but which Modi did not attend in person.
The SCO is made up of nine countries – Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Iran – and four Central Asian countries – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Belarus will join as the 10th member state.
Modi’s remarks are being seen as a criticism of Pakistan following the recent Poonch and Reasi attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, which are believed to have been carried out by Pakistani terrorists who had infiltrated from across the Line of Control.
The connectivity comments were seen as a criticism of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a Beijing-led global connectivity project that India refuses to participate in because its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India considers to be part of Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947-48.
“Countering terrorism, one of the SCO’s core objectives, must of course be given priority. Many of us have experienced terrorism that originates from across borders. Let us be clear that, if unchecked, it can pose a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or tolerated,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“The international community must isolate and expose those countries that harbor, provide safe havens for or tolerate terrorists. Cross-border terrorism needs to be tackled decisively and terrorist financing and recruitment must be countered decisively. Active steps must also be taken to prevent the spread of radicalisation among young people. The joint statement issued on this issue during India’s chairmanship last year underscores our shared resolve.”
Regarding connectivity, the Prime Minister said, “Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects, as are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to seriously consider these aspects…”
“It is particularly noteworthy that both sides reaffirmed mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual interest, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and non-use or threat of force as the basis of their foreign policy. They also agreed not to take any measures contrary to the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.
He added, “We gather today against the backdrop of the impact of the pandemic, ongoing conflicts, rising tensions, trust gaps and increasing hotspots around the world. These events are putting a great strain on international relations and global economic growth. They are exacerbating several problems arising from globalization. Our gathering aims to find common ground to mitigate the impact of these developments. The SCO occupies an important place in our foreign policy…. The SCO is a principled organization whose consensus drives the approach of its member states.”
PM Modi also said, “Another major concern facing us today is climate change. We are working to reduce emissions through measures including shifting to alternative fuels, introducing electric vehicles and building climate-resilient infrastructure. In this context, during India’s SCO chairmanship, a Joint Statement on Emerging Fuels and a Concept Paper on Decarbonisation of the Transport Sector were approved.”
On technology and artificial intelligence (AI), he said, “We have to be creative with technology and apply it for the welfare and progress of society. India is one of the countries that has formulated a national strategy on artificial intelligence and launched an AI mission. Our commitment to ‘AI for all’ is also reflected in working on a roadmap for AI cooperation within the SCO framework.”
Later, in separate remarks read out by Dr Jaishankar again at the expanded meeting, PM Modi spoke out against “double standards” on the issue of terrorism, which he termed as the “biggest challenge”, adding that “SCO’s resolve must never waver” to counter the threat.
In another allusion to Pakistan, PM Modi said, “Talking about challenges, terrorism will undoubtedly be top of mind for many of us. The truth is that terrorism continues to be used by states as a tool of destabilisation. We have experienced cross-border terrorism. Let me be clear that terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or tolerated. Harbouring terrorists must be strongly condemned. Cross-border terrorism requires a firm response and terrorist financing and recruitment must be effectively countered. SCO must never waver in its resolve. We cannot have double standards in this regard.”
PM Modi reiterated India and other countries’ initiatives to enhance connectivity through Iran’s Chabahar port. “SCO expansion member states should take note of the recent progress achieved at Chabahar port through a long-term agreement between India and Iran. This will not only be of great value to landlocked Central Asian countries but will also de-risk trade between India and Eurasia,” he said.
PM Modi further said, “As more countries want to join the SCO as observers and dialogue partners, we must strive for better communication and deepen consensus. Making English the third official language will be crucial.”
PM Modi offered to share India’s expertise in startups with SCO member states and said, “India has contributed significantly to strengthening the SCO economic agenda. We have institutionalized mechanisms like the SCO Startup Forum and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Startups and Innovation. India has 130,000 startups, including 100 unicorns, and our experience will be useful to other countries.”
