External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at SCO meet stressed that the 'menace of terrorism continues unabated' in the presence of his counterpart Bilawal Bhutto, Pakistan's Foreign minister was in attendance.
"The menace of terrorism continues unabated. 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. Combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of SCO...," EAM Dr S Jaishankar said.
The channel of finances for terrorist activities must be blocked without any distinction and terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, must be stopped, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
In his address at the SCO Council of foreign Ministers' meeting, Jaishankar said taking the eyes off terrorism would be detrimental to the security interests of the grouping and that when the world was engaged in facing Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continued unabated, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. "We must not allow anybody -- individual or State -- to hide behind non-State actors," he said.
On Afghanistan, he said the unfolding situation in that country remains at "centre of our attention".
"Our efforts should be directed towards the welfare of the Afghan people. Our immediate priorities include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities," he said.
