SCO virtual summit
Says there can be no justification for the killing of innocent people regardless of the cause or pretext
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, should be condemned in “clear and unambiguous terms”.
He made the remarks while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) virtual summit hosted by India. Russia and China were also among the other countries attending the meeting. “SCO member states have a shared interest in ensuring peace and stability in the region, which is a precondition for economic development anywhere in the world. “The Hydra-headed monster of terrorism and extremism — whether committed by individuals, societies or states — must be fought by full vigor and conviction. Any temptation to use it as a cudgel for diplomatic point-scoring must be avoided under all circumstances,” he said.
“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including state terrorism, must be condemned in clear and unambiguous terms. There can be no justification for the killing of innocent people regardless of the cause or pretext.” The premier went on to say that religious minorities should not be demonised in the “pursuit of domestic political agendas”. While PM Shehbaz did not refer to any specifics in his speech, his remarks come as activists say persecution and hate speech against religious minorities, especially Muslims, in India have accelerated since Narendra Modi came into power.
In his speech, PM Shehbaz noted that while the sacrifices made by Pakistan in fighting the scourge of terrorism were without a parallel, the phenomenon continued to plague the region and was a “serious obstacle” to peace and stability.
“SCO countries must take concerted and immediate actions, both in their national and collective capacity, […] to combat the three evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism,” he said, adding that achieving lasting peace in the region was a common concern as well as the responsibility of all SCO leaders.
