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In a scathing, if not unprecedented, attack on Pakistan after the meeting, Jaishankar mentioned victims and perpetrators of terrorism can’t sit collectively and that Pakistan’s credibility was depleting sooner than its foreign exchange reserves. Jaishankar was addressing the media after the anti-terror operation in Rajouri during which 5 military jawans misplaced their lives. This was the second main terror-related incident in J&Okay previously few weeks and for the reason that official announcement concerning the G20 assembly that India will host in Srinagar later this month.
Jaishankar mentioned Pakistan had nothing to do with not simply G20 but in addition Srinagar. “The only issue to be discussed in J&K is Pakistan’s illegal occupation of PoK and when they will vacate it,” mentioned the minister, including it’s pure for India to host a G20 assembly there.
“Victims of terrorism don’t sit with perpetrators of terrorism. Victims call it out and delegitimise it. To come here and preach hypocritically as if we are on the same boat…I don’t want to jump the gun (on Rajouri attack) but we are all feeling outraged,” mentioned Jaishankar, responding to a question about Bilawal’s peace overtures during which he had instructed the Pakistan media ties shouldn’t be allowed to stay hostage to historical past. “Don’t know if peace is our destiny but terrorism certainly can’t be any country’s destiny. You can’t do terrorism and speak about peace in the same breath,” mentioned Jaishankar, responding to Bilawal’s comment that “peace is our destiny”. Bilawal had left for Pakistan earlier than Jaishankar’s press interplay.
02:06
EAM Jaishankar slams Bhutto for ‘weaponising terrorism’ remark at SCO meet
Earlier within the day, after a largely uneventful SCO welcome dinner, India and Pakistan returned Friday to spar on the enterprise finish of the overseas ministers’ assembly on the difficulty of cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar reminded the member-states that combating terrorism was one of many unique mandates of the SCO and in addition tweeted later, responding Zardari’s assertion State actors should not be conflated with non-State actors, that they need to not permit anyone – particular person or State – to cover behind non-state actors.
Addressing the assembly, Bilawal additionally mentioned terrorism shouldn’t be weaponised for “diplomatic point scoring”. Jaishankar countered it at his press briefing later by saying Bilawal had unconsciously revealed a mindset. “They seem to think terrorism is legitimate and normal and can be weaponised. Am I supposed to put up with it? We are only exposing Pakistan politically and diplomatically,” he mentioned.
Both leaders spoke within the assembly with out naming one another’s nation although because the apply at SCO is to not elevate bilateral disputes. Bilawal didn’t particularly point out the J&Okay concern within the assembly however mentioned “illegal and unilateral” measures in violation of UNSC resolutions ran counter to SCO aims. On Bilawal’s remark earlier than the media that India needed to overview the choice to abrogate Article 370, Jaishankar mentioned, “‘Wake up and smell the coffee…370 is history”.
“Menace of terrorism has continued unabated and taking our eyes off it would be detrimental to our security interests. There can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism,” mentioned Jaishankar in his opening remarks within the assembly. With his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang additionally current, he reiterated India’s place that whereas connectivity was key to progress, it needed to be accompanied by respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member-states.
Bilawal was the one overseas minister with whom Jaishankar didn’t have a bilateral assembly. Briefing Pakistan journalists after the assembly, he blamed India’s resolution to revoke the particular standing of J&Okay for the present stalemate in ties. Bilawal, nevertheless, complimented Jaishankar for not permitting bilateral variations to come back in the way in which of SCO cooperation and mentioned he was proud of the remedy he received right here.
Jaishankar welcomed all friends on digicam to the assembly venue within the morning with a namaste, and never a handshake. While no photograph of the dinner on Thursday was made public, Pakistani sources have been quoted by the media accompanying Bilawal as confirming that the two leaders shook arms and greeted one another. India has not confirmed the handshake.
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