SCO roundup: India opposes China's OBOR, Jaishankar schools Pakistan, and more

India on Wednesday (Oct 16) refused to endorse China's  'One Belt One Road' at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, reiterating its strong opposition against the controversial initiative.

All members barring India supported China's project, aimed at building trade routes but importantly, imposing strategic control over the region. The joint communique issued at the end of the summit, hosted by Islamabad stated that Russia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for OBOR.

India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar took to X (formerly Twitter) and subtly took a dig at China's initiative. 

"Upholding fair and balanced connectivity projects in accordance with international law, the goals and principles of the UN Charter and SCO Charter," posted Jaishankar. 

"Reemphasizing rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive and transparent multilateral trading system with WTO at its core," he added.

Notably, India had refused its endorsement last year as well when the SCO Summit was held in New Delhi.

Watch | SCO Summit 2024: Jaishankar Becomes First Indian Foreign Minister to Visit Pak In A Decade

Jaishankar's address 

Earlier, during his address, Jaishankar took a swipe at both Pakistan and China by calling for introspection if good neighbours had gone missing. 

"If we fast-forward from the inception of the Charter to the situation today, these goals and these tasks are even more crucial. It is, therefore, essential that we have an honest conversation," said Jaishankar. 

"If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address. Equally, it is only when we reaffirm our commitment most sincerely to the Charter that we can fully realise the benefits of cooperation and integration that it envisages," he added.

The Indian leader termed cross-border terrorism, extremism and separatism as the "three evils" that hinder trade and people-to-people relations between countries.

Notably, it was the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. The previous visit was in December 2015, when Sushma Swaraj travelled to Islamabad for the 'Heart of Asia' conference on Afghanistan, accompanied by Jaishankar, who was then serving as India's foreign secretary.

(With inputs from agencies)