PM Modi takes dig at Pakistan during virtual SCO meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at Pakistan on the digital summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday, saying it’s unlucky that repeated makes an attempt have been being made to violate the grouping’s constitution by elevating bilateral points.

Modi additionally mentioned connectivity initiatives ought to be constructed round respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, and reiterated that India stood prepared to assist all nations struggle the Covid-19 disaster with its vaccine manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

The SCO heads of state summit, chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was held just about owing to the pandemic. It was the primary time that Modi and President Xi Jinping shared the identical platform because the India-China standoff alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) emerged within the open in May.

Modi, who spoke in Hindi, mentioned India believes in peace, safety and prosperity, and has at all times opposed terrorism, unlawful arms smuggling, drug trafficking and cash laundering, he added. Without naming Pakistan, he mentioned: “It is unfortunate that repeated attempts are being made to unnecessarily bring bilateral issues to the SCO agenda, which violate the SCO Charter and Shanghai Spirit. Such efforts are contrary to the spirit of consensus and cooperation that defines SCO.”

India has reacted sharply to Pakistan’s repeated efforts, typically with assist from its conventional ally China, to lift the Kashmir situation at multilateral our bodies akin to SCO and the UN Security Council because the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped in August final yr.

In September, India walked out of a digital assembly of nationwide safety advisers of SCO after the Pakistani consultant projected a map that inaccurately depicted the borders of the 2 nations. Russia, which chaired that assembly, subsequently knowledgeable India that the Pakistani consultant had gone forward with the motion regardless of being requested not to take action.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who spoke after Modi, criticised India with out naming the nation. Khan praised China, together with for its help for tackling the pandemic and its assist for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is opposed by India because it passes via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Noting that SCO was established to make sure safety throughout Eurasia, Khan mentioned, in an obvious reference to Kashmir: “SCO stands for strict observance of this principle and the principles of the UN charter such as equality and sovereignty of states, respect for territory integrity, sanctity of borders, non-aggression, non-use of threat of force and people’s right for self-determination.”

Khan additional mentioned “unilateral and illegal measures to change the status of disputed territories in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions run counter” to SCO’s goals, and such steps should be opposed.

Modi mentioned the International North South Transport Corridor and Iran’s Chabahar port replicate “India’s strong resolve towards connectivity”. He added, “India believes that to further deepen connectivity, it is necessary to move forward with the core principles of respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”