Emergence of SCO a Sign of Greater Multipolarity: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has said that the emergence of groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was a clear indicator of an emerging multipolar world order.

"The world is today moving towards greater multi-polarity. This is not just in terms of redistribution of national capacities, but also the emergence of effective groupings like SCO," the Indian top diplomat told his Eurasian counterparts. "Our ability to contribute to the shaping of world affairs will naturally depend on how well we come together on a shared agenda. That means taking everybody on board."

Significantly, Jaishankar urged the SCO to adopt an "uncompromising stance" against terrorism, while noting that combatting the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism was a founding principle of the 10-nation Eurasian politico-security grouping.

"Recently, we in India witnessed a graphic example in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. It was deliberately conducted to undermine the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, while sowing a religious divide," he noted in his address to the SCO foreign ministers.

Jaishankar said that India continued to seek accountability for the terrorist act, in line with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement condemning the incident and calling for holding perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of the deadly incident to be brought to justice.

Taking note of the "considerable disorder" and rising "economic instability" in the global system, Jaishankar flagged the trend of "conflicts, competition and coercion".

"The challenge before us is to stabilize the global order, de-risk various dimensions and through it all, address longstanding challenges that threaten our collective interests," the Indian minister said.

Jaishankar said that India has been playing its part in boosting intra-SCO cooperation through various initiatives, including in areas of startup and innovation, traditional medicine and digital public infrastructure (DPI).

"We will continue to positively approach new ideas and proposals that are genuinely for our collective good," he said.

The EAM emphasised that such cooperation should be based on "mutual respect, sovereign equality and in accordance with territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states".

Jaishankar stated that the deepening cooperation among the Eurasian partners would require bolstering trade and investment exchanges.

"For that to move to the next level, it is imperative that we address some current issues. One of them is the lack of assured transit within the SCO space. Its absence undermines the seriousness of advocating cooperation in economic areas," he stated.

He also expressed confidence that the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which runs from Russia through Central Asia to Iran and connects it to India and onwards to Southeast Asia, will continue to "gather momentum".

Touching on the developments in Afghanistan, Jaishankar urged the SCO partners to step up their developmental assistance for Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan has been long on the SCO agenda. The compulsions of regional stability are buttressed by our longstanding concern for the well-being of the Afghan people," Jaishankar said.

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