India talks tough on terror as Bhutto attends SCO summit

According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was exposed as a “promoter, justifier, and spokesperson” for the terrorist business at Friday’s SCO conference.

According to Jaishankar, Pakistan’s credibility in dealing with is dwindling even faster than the country’s foreign exchange reserves after Bhutto Zardari’s comments on combating terrorism.

When asked if there was any chance of negotiations between India and Pakistan to address the scourge, the external affairs minister responded, “Victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism.”

Jammu and Kashmir “was, is, and will” always be a part of India, Jaishankar added.

The foreign minister explained that Bhutto Zardari’s visit to India was part of multilateral diplomacy, as she represented a SCO member state as foreign minister.

“Do not see it as anything more than that,” he emphasised.

Jaishankar said it was made very clear that connectivity is good for prosperity but cannot undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States, a point he emphasised in reference to the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.