Bhutto-Zardari calls for collective approach by SCO to combat terrorism

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday called for a collective approach by the SCO to combat terrorism and not get caught up in ”weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring”. His remarks at the India-hosted conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa came shortly after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, must be stopped. ”… 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,” Jaishankar said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan’s support to terrorist activities against India. Bhutto-Zardari in his address said terrorism continues to threaten global security and that collective security of our peoples is our joint responsibility. ”Let’s not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring,” he said, in comments seen as a veiled dig at India. He also talked about the need for ensuring respect for universally recognised principles such as peace, cooperation, regional integration and economic opportunities within the SCO. ”Unilateral and illegal measures by States in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions run counter to the SCO objectives. We need to be unambiguous in keeping our commitments and charting out a new future for our people. One that is not based on conflict preservation but on conflict resolution.” he said. Though Bhutto-Zardari did not make any specific references or clarified the context, his remarks are seen as an indirect reference to India’s policy on Kashmir. The text of his speech was released by the Pakistan foreign ministry. Ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August 2019. On combating terroris