No justification, no looking away: What S Jaishankar said on terrorism at SCO Summit in Russia
Jaishankar held extensive talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and covered a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
New Delhi: In a strong address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Russia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a pointed message on terrorism. In his Speech, Jaishankar stated that the world must adopt "zero tolerance" for all forms of terrorism.
"There can be no justification, no looking away, no whitewashing of terrorism," he said, adding that India "has the right to defend its people against terrorism and will exercise it."
He amplified New Delhi's call for collective and uncompromising action, urging that combating terrorism remain a paramount shared priority with no allowance for any form of tolerance.
Jaishankar, who arrived in Moscow earlier on Tuesday for a three-day visit, is participating in the SCO Heads of State Council meeting. His engagements in Russia also include a series of high-level discussions ahead of President Vladimir Putin's anticipated visit to New Delhi next month.
Shortly after his arrival, Jaishankar held extensive talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The discussions covered a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including cooperation within the SCO, BRICS, the UN, and the G20, as reported by Russia's state-run TASS news agency.
During his meeting with Lavrov, Jaishankar emphasised the importance of open and candid exchanges in the current turbulent global landscape. "We will also be exchanging views on the complex global situation with the openness that has always characterised our ties," he remarked, specifically mentioning the conflict in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, and the situation in Afghanistan as key discussion points.
He further stressed that India supports recent international efforts aimed at achieving peace, stating, "An early cessation of the conflict and ensuring an enduring peace is in the interest of the entire international community."
Jaishankar highlighted the historical role of India-Russia relations as a "factor of stability in international relations," asserting that their continued growth is not only mutually beneficial but also contributes significantly to global stability.