AMN / WEB DESK
The External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) discussed multilateral cooperation among member countries to address regional and global issues of common interest. Addressing a press conference after the SCO Foreign Minister’s Meeting in Goa this evening, the External Affairs Minister said the members also discussed the preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit in India. He said India has furthered its priority of moving “Towards a SECURE SCO” during India’s presidency. The External Affairs Minister said that it has been meeting’s endeavour to create new verticles of cooperation in SCO.
On his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the External Affairs Minister said as a promoter, justifier and a spokesperson of the terrorism industry, his position on the menace was called out at the SCO meeting. He said, Pakistan’s credibility in dealing with terrorism is depleting even faster than their forex reserves. Asked whether there could be talks between India and Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister said, victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators to discuss terrorism. The Minister said that the progress on the admission of Iran and Belarus as full Member States was reviewed.
The two-day meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation concluded today in Goa. Foreign ministers of member countries were present for meeting. India assumed presidency of SCO in 2022.