GOA: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke at the SCO meeting in Goa on Friday, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and peaceful settlement of international disputes.
The Foreign Minister condemned unilateral and illegal measures taken by states in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, stating that such actions are counter to the SCO objectives.
He called for the condemnation of willful provocations and incitement to hate, particularly on religious grounds, and emphasized the collective duty to fight against fascism and historical revisionism leading to violent ultra-nationalism anywhere in the world. He stressed the need to ensure that racism and xenophobic ideologies have no place in today’s world, and that fundamental human rights and freedoms are guaranteed to all.
Bhutto Zardari also emphasized Pakistan’s condemnation of all forms of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism. He argued that conflating non-state actors with state actors must stop, and that the root causes of terrorism must be addressed alongside the threats posed by specific groups. Pakistan is firmly committed to participating in regional and global efforts to eradicate this menace.
Addressing the poverty situation in the SCO region, Bhutto Zardari called for collective efforts to alleviate the financial suffering of people in member states. He argued that the challenge can only be overcome through common efforts and learning from each other’s experiences. Bhutto Zardari announced that Pakistan proposed the establishment of the Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation, which would be a step in that direction.
Concerning the adverse impact of climate change, Bhutto Zardari called on the developed world to fulfill its commitment of providing $100 billion annually for climate finance. He also stressed Pakistan’s belief in and adherence to the principles of mutual trust, equality, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of shared development enshrined in the original “Shanghai Spirit.”
These principles align with Pakistan’s vision of enhanced regional economic connectivity and win-win cooperation, and the SCO could be a key platform for taking this vision of Eurasian connectivity to the next level. Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit for the Bhutto argued that investing in collective connectivity capacities is crucial to advancing the shared vision of an economically integrated region. Pakistan looks forward to hosting the “Conference on Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity” in September this year.
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Bilawal also highlighted the situation in Afghanistan, calling upon the international community to meaningfully engage with the Interim Afghan Government to better understand and influence the course of events. He argued that the international community must continue to urge the Afghan authorities to adopt universally-accepted principles of political inclusivity and respect the rights of all Afghans, including girls’ right to education. The international community should also help build their counter-terrorism capacity for the security of Afghanistan, the region, and the world at large.
He called on the Interim Afghan Authorities to uphold their commitments on not allowing the use of Afghan soil for terrorism. He urged the global community to work towards addressing these security concerns to unlock the true potential of not only Afghanistan but the region as a whole. Bhutto Zardari argued that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is key not only to regional integration and economic cooperation but also to global peace and stability.
Bhutto Zardari’s speech emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, peace, and stability in the region. He called for collective efforts to address poverty and climate change, and urged the international community to engage with Afghanistan and work towards building a peaceful and stable future for the region. Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit for the whole region, and the establishment of the Special Working Group on Poverty.
