FM urges SCO unity to confront plethora of challenges

GOA:

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday stressed the need for collective action by the regional countries under Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to jointly address the common issues, including climate change, poverty and terrorism.

In his address at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in the Indian coastal report, the foreign said that geopolitics must not affect the commitment to address these challenges and learn lessons for the collective good.

“The solution to our collective challenges should be collective action, not a divided reaction… We must isolate these issues from hyper-partisan geopolitics if we are to succeed,” he told the SCO foreign ministers.

“Pakistan remains committed to multilateralism and will continue to play a leading role at all international forums, including the United Nations, for forging friendly relations among nations and supporting peaceful settlement of international disputes,” he added.

In a comprehensive speech, the foreign minister highlighted Pakistan’s vision of enhanced regional economic connectivity and win-win cooperation. “Our excuse cannot be that we were too divided to put up a fight!”

Climate change

Bilawal said the climate crisis posed an existential threat to the humanity and proposed a joint working group in the SCO on climate change. He reminded the developed world of their commitment to providing $100 billion annually for climate finance.

On connectivity, he said Pakistan will host a ‘Conference on Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity’ in September this year and added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could be a force multiplier for regional connectivity.

Poverty

The foreign minister emphasised that poverty still plagued this region and mentioned that Pakistan was proud of the internationally acclaimed Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

The BISP, the minister added, ushered Pakistan into a silent revolution of poverty alleviation together with women’s empowerment. “The establishment of a special working group on poverty alleviation proposed by Pakistan would be a step forward.”

Regional security

Bilawal termed the collective security of the region a joint responsibility, stressing that terrorism continued to threaten global security. “Let’s not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point-scoring,” he warned.

He recalled that he spoke as the son, whose mother was assassinated at the hands of terrorists. “I feel the pain of this loss, empathise with victims across the world in a way most can’t,” he said, referring to the martyrdom of late Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

“Pakistan is firmly committed to being a part of regional and global efforts for eradicating this menace that requires a comprehensive and collective approach to address its root causes as well as the threats posed by specific groups,” he said.

“It requires that we let this challenge unite us to fight it rather than divide us to become its victim. Our success requires us to isolate this issue from geo-political partisanship,” the foreign minister added.

The foreign minister called for strengthening the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO RATS) to effectively address the growing threats to peace and security.

At the same time, the foreign minister emphasised: “We must stop conflating non-state actors with state actors. Condemn all forms of terrorism including state-sponsored terrorism.”

Afghanistan

He called upon the international community to meaningfully engage with the interim Afghan government to better understand and influence the course of events, especially on girls’ right to education and security.

He called on the authorities in Kabul not to allow the use of Afghan soil for terrorism. “A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a key not only to regional integration and economic cooperation but also to global peace and stability,” he said.

He commended China’s recent role in bridging differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran. “When great powers play the role of peacemaker, we can unlock the potential of peace, while paving the way for greater cooperation, regional integration, and economic opportunities for our peoples.”

The chair of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, Dr S Jaishankar, foreign ministers of SCO member states, the secretary general of the SCO, and the director of the executive committee of SCO RATS attended the meeting.