Jaishankar flags conflicts, competition, coercion

In a reference to China restricting the supply of critical minerals, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed India's concerns over "conflicts, competition and coercion" as well as economic instability, underlining the need to stabilise the global order and address longstanding challenges that "threaten our collective interests".

- ARCHIS MOHAN

Addressing his Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) counterparts in Tianjin, China, Jaishankar urged the grouping to remain true to its founding objective of combating terrorism and extremism, and to take an "uncompromising" stance on these issues. He also elaborated on India's rationale for Operation Sindoor, defending the country's response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, in which 26 people were killed.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar, along with other foreign ministers of SCO member states, called on Chinese President Xi Jinping.