Fight against three evils - terrorism, separatism and extremism - a priority in SCO: Jaishankar

Astana, July 15

With terrorism becoming a threat to regional and global peace, the perpetrators, facilitators, financiers and sponsors of heinous acts of terrorism “need to be identified and punished,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, in a veiled jibe at Pakistan.

In a recent interview with Astana-based Kazinform News Agency, he also emphasised that the “fight against the three evils — terrorism, separatism and extremism — is a priority in SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)”.

The 24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State was held on July 4 in the Kazakh capital Astana, under the presidency of Kazakhstan. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation to the Summit. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also attended the summit.

“There is no doubt that the major challenge faced by the world today is terrorism. It has become a threat to regional and global peace, and it demands urgent action from all of us,” he said.

“Combating terrorism requires a very comprehensive approach – not just the perpetrators of heinous acts of terrorism, but the facilitators, financiers and sponsors of terrorism – they all need to be identified and punished,” Jaishankar said.

The minister emphasised that he “strongly believes” that SCO through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has a “reasonable standing” to propose measures against terrorism in the region.

Jaishankar said he is happy that Kazakhstan, during its chair, negotiated an updated programme to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which was adopted at the Astana Summit, according to the transcript of the interview shared by the Ministry of External Affairs.