Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cautioned India on Tuesday against employing terrorism as a diplomatic tool for point-scoring, emphasizing that such activities continue to pose a major barrier to regional peace. His comments came during his speech at the 23rd meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS), which was held virtually and hosted by India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chairmanship.
Shared Interests for Regional Peace And Against Terrorism
During his address, PM Shehbaz stressed that all SCO member nations have a mutual interest in maintaining regional peace and stability, a necessary precondition for global economic development. He passionately condemned terrorism and extremism in any form and context, urging that any temptations to misuse these serious issues for diplomatic advantage should be refrained from at all costs.
The Prime Minister underlined that there can be no valid reasons for killing innocent individuals, irrespective of the cause or excuse. He warned against demonising religious minorities in pursuit of domestic political agendas. He expressed Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism, acknowledging the country’s sacrifices in this struggle.
PM Shehbaz asserted that concerted and immediate actions against terrorism, extremism, and separatism are imperative for SCO member countries. He reminded the members of Pakistan’s unique geographical status in Central Asia and its potentially transformative role via the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He indicated that the special economic zones being established under CPEC could act as a catalyst for regional development.
The Afghan Issue: A Standstill and a Plea for Support
Addressing the ongoing Afghan crisis, PM Shehbaz expressed concern about the international community’s current impasse. He urged stakeholders to continue their support to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation, calling for reconsidering the withheld critical support needed by Afghanistan. He also asked the interim Taliban-led government to take concrete steps to prevent Afghanistan’s soil from being used for militant activities.
India’s Call for United Anti-Terrorism Stance
Earlier in the meeting, Indian PM Narendra Modi urged SCO leaders to unify in combating terrorism and openly condemn countries that support such activities. Modi also advocated for providing humanitarian aid to Kabul and ensuring that Afghanistan’s soil is not used to destabilise the region.
