Islamabad:
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Monday condemned the terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province in March and May, as well as the assault on tourists in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In a joint declaration, the Council of Leader of Member States in the 10-member Eurasian political, economic and security block against double standards in the fight against terrorism warned and called for agreement on a global convention to address the threat.
The SCO summit was held in the Chinese city of Tianjin under Presidency of President Xi Jinping. It was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Emomali Rahmon of Tadsjikistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, President Alexander Lukashenko Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India.
The leaders adopted the joint statement condemning Jaffar Express -Taken Casting on March 11 in Balochistan and the bombing of a school bus in Khuzdar on May 21. It also condemned the attack on April 22 in Pahaldam, a tourist hotspot in IIOJK.
Membership states condemned strongly terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasized that double standards in the fight against terrorism were unacceptable. They emphasized the importance of adopting a comprehensive convention on international terrorism by consensus, the statement states.
According to the statement, the leaders expressed their deepest sympathy and compassion for the deceased’s families and the wounded, saying that perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to court.
While confirming their regular commitment to the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, the leaders emphasized “rejection of attempts to use” terrorist, separatist and extremist groups for mercenary.
They recognized the leading role of sovereign states and their competent authorities in counteracting terrorist and extremist threats and emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation in combating terrorism and terrorist financing.
“Member States confirm their willingness to continue the joint struggle against terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as against the illegal trafficking in drugs, psychotropic drugs and their precursors, weapons smuggling and other forms of transnational organized crime,” the statement states.
The joint statement said SCO Member States promised to intensify joint efforts to prevent the spread of radical ideologies, religious intolerance and xenophobia, aggressive nationalism and ethnic and racial discrimination.
“They adopted the program for cooperation with Member States in counteracting extremist ideology in the SCO area for 2026-2030, with the aim of meeting the implementation of the participating states of the SCO convention to counteract extremism (Astana, June 9, 2017),” added.
Chaos and conflicts
The statement noted that geopolitical confrontation, challenges and threats to security and stability, including in the SCO region, intensified. The global economy, especially international commodity and financial markets, experienced serious turmoil.
“There is a growing desire to create a more just, just, just and representative multipolar world order that opens up new prospects for developing states and mutually advantageous international cooperation,” it said.
Leaders confirmed their commitment to a more representative, democratic, fair and multipolar world order based on the principles of international law and the UN -Charter and respect for cultural diversity and mutually advantageous and equal cooperation between states.
Member States adhered to a line that excludes blocking and confrontational approaches to solving international and regional development problems. They emphasized that cooperation within SCO could serve as the basis for the formation of an architecture with equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.
Member States undertook to ensure sustainable international peace and called for joint efforts to address traditional and new security challenges and threats. To further improve the SCO’s activities, Member States adopted the SCO development strategy until 2035.
Gaza and Iran
With a repeat of their deep concern about the continued escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Member States strongly condemn the actions that have led to several losses among the civilian population and a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
They underlined the need to ensure an immediate, complete and sustainable ceasefire, access to humanitarian assistance, and intensified efforts to achieve peace, stability and security for all residents of the region, the joint statement said.
SCO condemned the military strikes of Israel and the United States against Iran in June. They said that such aggressive acts against civilian targets, including nuclear energy infrastructure, which resulted in civilian deaths, was a gross violation of international law and the UN charter.
“They noticed that the physical nuclear security and security of nuclear facilities must be secured permanently, including during periods of armed conflict to protect the population and the environment from injury,” the joint statement said.
The statement emphasized the nation’s right to develop research, production and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes and emphasized that unilateral restrictive measures in this area were in violation of international law and are unacceptable.
While confirming the obligation to diplomatic initiatives aimed at the peaceful solution of the blanks, the SCO leaders called on the resumption of constructive dialogue between the parties involved and to focus on together seeking solutions that would prevent further escalation of the situation.
Contributing their commitment to the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, neutral and peaceful state, free of terrorism, war and drugs, the Member States emphasized the formation of an inclusive government with broad participation of representatives of all ethno policy groups.
The SCO summit noted plans to hold the ‘SCO-PLUS dialog on security questions’ in Tashkent; The proposal to prepare and sign an agreement on confidence -creating measures on the military sphere and supported further in -depth practical cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.
SCO said a country’s attempt to secure security at the expense of other countries was unacceptable. They warned that the unilateral and uninhibited development of global anti-missile defense systems had a negative impact on international security and stability.
According to the declaration, the Member States, with the exception of India, confirmed their support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The summit also adopted a statement of support for the multilateral trading system and the initiative to develop an agreement on a trading facility within the SCO.
Leaders called for the initiative to establish a ‘major Eurasian partnership’ and expressed their readiness to develop dialogue between SCO, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (SAARC) as well as other interested states and multilateral associations.
By confirming the importance of establishing a SCO Development Bank, the interested Member States decided to establish it and intensify consultations on a number of issues related to the functioning of this financial institution.
Member States tried to elaborate on cooperation in the sports field and noted the importance of removing barriers to participation in sports competitions. They emphasized that major international sporting events should be organized in a spirit of peace and friendship without any discrimination.
The SCO Presidency will transfer to Kyrgyz Republic and will be held under the slogan “25 years of SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity”. The next meeting of the Council for Head of the Member States of SCO will be held in 2026 in Kyrgyz Republic.
