Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered a powerful speech on Thursday at the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, emphasizing the need for a unified stand against terrorism. He highlighted that eradicating militancy is essential for economic development.
Addressing the summit, which included prominent figures like India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, PM Shehbaz underscored the importance of condemning state terrorism unequivocally. “Terrorism, whether committed by individuals, groups, or states, must be fought collectively in a comprehensive fashion,” he stated.
The prime minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing accusations by the Pakistani government that India sponsors terrorism within Pakistan. This stance was recently bolstered by the arrest of two high-value Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, one of whom admitted to receiving financial support from India.
Pakistan has a tumultuous history with India, having fought three wars and holding Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav since 2016 on charges of sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan. Supporting Islamabad’s claims, The Guardian reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government allegedly “ordered killings” on Pakistani soil.
Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Qazi earlier this year also cited credible evidence linking Indian agents to the murders of two Pakistani citizens.
In his speech, PM Shehbaz stressed, “There can neither be any justification for the killing of innocent people nor should the bogey of terrorism be used for political point-scoring.” He urged the summit to combat terrorism comprehensively and collectively.
He also emphasized the importance of respecting universally recognized principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and people’s right to self-determination, advocating for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions to resolve longstanding regional disputes.
Highlighting the significance of peace in Afghanistan, PM Shehbaz urged the SCO to engage with Afghan authorities and called on the Kabul administration to curb terrorism emanating from its territory. “The SCO member states have a shared interest in ensuring peace and stability in the region, which is a precondition for any kind of economic development,” he noted.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO Charter, PM Shehbaz supported the organization’s expansion and reforms. He welcomed Belarus as a new full member and congratulated President Xi Jinping on assuming the SCO Chair for 2024-25.
The prime minister highlighted the high priority of SCO cooperation in Pakistan’s foreign policy, advocating for collective action under the SCO platform for socioeconomic development and enhanced regional connectivity.
On climate change, PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a sustainable, nature-positive world, calling for increased support from developed countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation. He welcomed the SCO Agreement on Environmental Protection.
Regarding the Palestinian conflict, he condemned Israel’s actions and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, advocating for a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds as the capital of Palestine.
Looking ahead, PM Shehbaz announced that Pakistan would host the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October. He expressed Pakistan’s determination to promote steady development and seek active collaboration from all SCO member states.
This summit highlighted Pakistan’s robust stance against terrorism and its commitment to regional stability and economic development through collective international action
