Jaishankar & Bilawal faced off over terror, territorial integrity

There were eight foreign ministers for the Goa meeting that set the stage for the SCO leaders’ summit on July 3 and 4 in Delhi.

Earlier on Friday, Jaishankar welcomed Bhutto Zardari with a namaste, along with other foreign ministers of SCO countries. On Thursday evening, Bhutto Zardari attended the dinner hosted by Jaishankar and Pakistan’s diplomats said the atmosphere was “cordial” at the reception.

Sources from both sides said that there was no bilateral meeting during the visit.

In his opening remarks on Friday, Jaishankar said, “While the world was engaged in facing COVID and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated. Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests.”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. (PTI)

“We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. The channel of finances for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked without distinction,” he said, adding that members need not be reminded that combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of the SCO. While SCO — by convention doesn’t deal with bilateral issues and disputes, he framed it under the rubric of SCO.

Bilawal, who was the fifth speaker in the day, responded to Jaishankar’s statement on cross-border terrorism, as he said, “The collective security of our peoples is our joint responsibility. Terrorism continues to threaten global security. Let’s not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring.”

Striking an emotional chord, he said, “When I speak on this topic, I do so not only as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan whose people have suffered the most in terms of number of attacks and number of casualties. I also speak as the son whose mother was assassinated at the hands of terrorists.” His mother, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007.

“I feel the pain of this loss, empathise with victims across the world in a way most can’t. I and my country are firmly committed to be part of regional and global efforts for eradicating this menace. This requires not only a comprehensive approach but also a collective approach. It demands we address the root causes as well as the threats posed by specific groups. It requires that we let this challenge unite us to fight it rather than divide us to become its victim. Our success requires us to isolate this issue from geo-political partisanship,” he said.

He also said, “Practical, pragmatic solutions exist for us to put an end to this chapter once and for all. We must stop conflating non-state actors with state actors. Condemn all forms of terrorism including state sponsored terrorism. Given that many SCO members confront the menace of terrorism, often from the same terrorist groups, the SCO RATS needs to be further strengthened to effectively address the growing threats to peace and security in the SCO space.”

On the issue of conflating non-state actors with state actors, Jaishankar, later tweeted, “We must not allow anybody — individual or State — to hide behind non-State actors.” He was making an oblique reference to Pakistan’s ISI which, Delhi usually says, has used terror groups as strategic tools and assets against India and Indian interests.

The two ministers also had a verbal duel over the other contentious issue of territorial integrity.

Talking about connectivity, Bhutto Zardari said, “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor can similarly be a force multiplier for regional connectivity. For too long, we have lamented the lack of connectivity between our economies – an impediment to regional trade and investment. CPEC does not only connect Pakistan to its neighbour China. CPEC offers all countries invested in the commonality of the future of this region to take the journey further and connect the dots towards full regional economic integration.”

Jaishankar responded, as he tweeted, “Underlined that while connectivity is key to progress, it must come with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states.” India has always maintained the CPEC — which is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative — is a redline.

In the first visit by a Pakistan Foreign Minister after a six-year hiatus, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in Goa on Thursday. Stating that his visit was “focused exclusively” on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting, he said he was looking forward to “constructive discussions” with his counterparts from “friendly countries”.

Bhutto Zardari’s presence on Indian soil assumes significance at a time when bilateral relations are at an all-time low. The last such visit was in December 2016, when Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister, Sartaj Aziz, travelled to Amritsar to attend the Heart of Asia conference. But as his then Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, was unwell, there was no bilateral meeting.

Before that, Aziz had received an invitation to India in August 2015, but the visit was called off after Swaraj asked him to desist from meeting Hurriyat leaders if he came to India.

In May 2014, then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had visited India to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

And in July 2011, then Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had visited India and held a bilateral meeting with then External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.