Indian External affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on October 12 attended the SCO Heads of Government council meeting in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe, in the presence of a number of leaders.
The leaders present at the meeting discussed prospects for the further development of SCO and exchanged in-depth views on current international and regional issues.
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also present at the meeting.
While addressing the gathering, EAM Swaraj said that terrorism remains the most pertinent threat to goals of development and prosperity. “As the footprint of terrorism expands, governments must assume their national responsibility and cooperate with each other. India has actively supported the SCO Qingdao Summit Leaders’ Appeal to Youth against the radicalisation of youth.”
EAM welcomed the signing of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group protocol, she added, “India stands committed to a peace process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, that can help Afghanistan emerge as peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation. In this context, we welcome the signing of the Protocol of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group on the sidelines of the Qingdao Summit. We would be happy to co-host with Afghanistan, the next meeting of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, in India.”
