NEW DELHI, Oct 5: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has announced that India will not discuss its relationship with Pakistan during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad, scheduled for October 15-16.
During a media interaction at the Sardar Patel lecture on governance today, he stated that his participation would focus on the multilateral aspects of the summit.
Dr. Jaishankar noted that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has been stagnant due to the lack of meetings in recent years, largely because of one member engaging in cross-border terrorism against others. He explained that this ongoing situation obstructs SAARC’s functionality.
“Terrorism is intolerable,” he said, adding that if one neighboring country persists in such activities, normal relations within SAARC are impossible. He also highlighted Sardar Patel’s historical opposition to involving the United Nations in disputes, especially concerning Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that such actions could lead to external interference.
The Minister reiterated that while India seeks positive relations with Pakistan, it cannot ignore issues related to cross-border terrorism. He emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach, aligning with Patel’s view of addressing issues directly with Pakistan rather than through international frameworks. Dr. Jaishankar concluded that realism should remain a fundamental principle of India’s foreign policy going forward.
