India’s Strong Stand at the SCO: Jaishankar Calls Out Pakistan's Hypocrisy on Cross-Border Terrorism
The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit hosted by Pakistan highlighted the country's ability to manage a significant international event without any major incidents. This, in itself, is noteworthy given Pakistan’s tumultuous security history. With 12,000 security personnel deployed and businesses shut down, the Pakistani establishment’s priority was to ensure a smooth, incident-free summit, which they successfully achieved. However, the deeper geopolitical implications, particularly from an Indian perspective, are more complex and telling.
India’s Measured Participation: Diplomatic and Strategic
India, a full member of the SCO since 2017, took a cautious but strategic approach by sending External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar’s attendance marked the first visit by an Indian minister to Pakistan since 2015. His visit began with a symbolic gesture—a morning walk at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and the planting of a tree as part of India’s tree plantation campaign, showing India’s continued efforts to promote environmental diplomacy even amidst tense political landscapes.
India’s participation, while understated, sent a clear message about its priorities within the SCO. Jaishankar’s address was direct: "If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighborliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address." This was a clear reference to India's challenges with both China and Pakistan, its two major SCO neighbors. He pointedly emphasized that cross-border terrorism, extremism, and separatism hinder regional cooperation, an implicit critique of Pakistan’s support for terrorism against India.
SCO: A Platform for Competing Agendas
The SCO, initially established to promote trade and security among its member states, now represents 40% of the world’s population and about 30% of the global GDP. However, its expansion to include both India and Pakistan in 2017 and Belarus and Iran more recently, has added layers of complexity to its dynamics. For India, the SCO presents a platform for multilateral dialogue, particularly with Central Asian countries, but also a stage to carefully navigate its relationships with China and Pakistan.
China, as one of the founding members, seeks to bolster the SCO into a powerful bloc, often pushing an anti-Western narrative. While China focuses on using the SCO to further initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), India remains skeptical of these projects, particularly as CPEC runs through the disputed region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan, during the summit, called for expanding infrastructure projects and proposed setting up an alternative development funding mechanism within the SCO, essentially asking for new financial support to revive stalled projects. This, however, raised questions about who would foot the bill for such expansions. Pakistan’s growing economic reliance on China, particularly under the CPEC framework, further underscores the country’s dependency on external loans and financial aid from its northern neighbor.
Pakistan’s Contradictions: Terrorism and Regional Hypocrisy
One of the more contentious moments during the summit came when Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called upon the international community to provide urgent humanitarian support for Afghanistan and urged the Afghan interim government to embrace political inclusivity to prevent the misuse of Afghan soil for terrorism against its neighbors. The irony of this statement was not lost on many, especially India, given Pakistan’s own record of supporting cross-border terrorism.
Jaishankar’s presence at the summit was particularly significant in this context. Pakistan’s establishment, particularly its military, has long been accused of fostering terrorism aimed at destabilizing India, a point that Jaishankar indirectly alluded to in his speech. He highlighted the hypocrisy of calling for anti-terrorism measures while simultaneously supporting extremist elements across borders.
India's Role in the SCO: Balancing Regional Cooperation with Security Concerns
For India, the SCO serves as a platform to push for greater regional cooperation while safeguarding its national security interests. While China and Pakistan seek to leverage the organization to further their own agendas—China through its economic projects like BRI and CPEC, and Pakistan through seeking new loans and financial aid—India remains focused on ensuring that security and genuine regional development remain at the forefront of the SCO's objectives.
The broader Indian perspective is one of cautious engagement. India understands the potential of the SCO for fostering trade and development, especially with Central Asian countries, but it also recognizes the limitations posed by the continued aggression from its two main SCO neighbors. China’s territorial ambitions and Pakistan’s terrorism-related provocations are ongoing challenges that India must address within this multilateral framework.
Jaishankar’s remarks underscored India's position: "If activities across borders are characterized by terrorism, extremism, and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity, and People to People exchanges." Until these issues are addressed, India’s participation in the SCO will remain measured, prioritizing national security over unchecked regional cooperation.
Conclusion
The SCO summit in Pakistan offered India another opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to regional stability while addressing the pressing issues of terrorism and security. India’s involvement in the organization continues to be a delicate balancing act—engaging with Central Asian countries for economic and trade opportunities while dealing with the complexities posed by China and Pakistan. Until Pakistan and China adhere to the principles of good neighborliness, particularly in the areas of security and territorial integrity, India’s cautious approach will remain a defining feature of its participation in the SCO.
This summit further reinforced India’s position as a responsible regional power, one that values cooperation but insists on mutual respect and adherence to international norms, especially in the fight against terrorism.