S Jaishankar delivers firm call against terrorism during first China visit since Galwan clash

During his first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a strong statement on terrorism while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers in Tianjin on Tuesday.

Referring to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, Jaishankar said it was “deliberately conducted to undermine the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, while sowing a religious divide.”

Emphasising the need for unwavering unity among SCO members, he reminded the gathering that the UN Security Council had condemned the incident “in the strongest terms” and called for those responsible - including perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors - to be held accountable.

He stressed that the SCO was established to confront the triple threat of “terrorism, separatism and extremism,” and insisted the bloc must “take an uncompromising position on this challenge” to stay aligned with its founding goals.

Jaishankar, who last visited China before the Galwan clashes, used the platform to underscore the importance of deeper regional cooperation built on mutual trust. “We meet at a time of considerable disorder in the international system. In the last few years, we have seen more conflicts, competition and coercion,” he said, noting the rise of economic instability and the broader challenge of stabilising the global order.

He also highlighted the global shift towards multipolarity, noting that influence is not only shifting through the redistribution of power among nations but also through the growing relevance of multilateral groups like the SCO.

“Our ability to contribute to the shaping of world affairs will naturally depend on how well we come together on a shared agenda. That means taking everybody on board,” Jaishankar concluded, urging member states to strengthen collaboration within the SCO framework.