'Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential'

Jaishankar says isolate and expose' countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism

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In a powerful address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, India underscored the critical importance of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in connectivity and infrastructure projects. The remarks, delivered by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were seen as a veiled reference to China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its investments in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir.

The SCO Summit, attended by leaders from member states including China, Russia, and Pakistan, aimed to foster cooperation and address global challenges. India’s statement highlighted the need for principled approaches to regional development and security.

“Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects,” Jaishankar emphasised, reading from Modi’s prepared remarks. “So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes.

The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects,” he said.

The comments come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between India and China, particularly regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI that passes through disputed territory in Kashmir. India has consistently opposed the CPEC, viewing it as a violation of its sovereignty. Moreover, China’s expansive BRI has been criticised for its “predatory financing,” which the US and others claim leaves smaller countries under significant debt, threatening their sovereignty.