SCO heads strongly condemn terrorist attack in Pahalgam , Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemned terrorism in all forms, including the Pahalgam attack, during its recent meeting.
• The Tianjin Declaration, signed by all members, called for an end to cross-border movement of terrorists and reaffirmed commitment to fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized "bullying behaviour" in the world order and advocated for fairness and justice, opposing a "cold war mentality".
• The SCO members expressed deep concern over the situation in Gaza and condemned actions leading to civilian casualties, advocating for a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue.

Detailed Insights:

• The Tianjin Declaration also opposed unilateral coercive measures that contravene the UN Charter and principles of the World Trade Organization, possibly referencing U.S. tariffs.
• President Xi Jinping proposed a Global Governance Initiative (GGI), urging countries to work together for a more just and equitable global governance system, abiding by international rule of law and practicing multilateralism.
• The SCO has decided to merge the statuses given to non-member countries to a single partner status, and Laos has been accepted as a partner country, bringing the total strength of the grouping to 27.
• The member states reaffirmed the importance of the UN Security Council resolution 2231, which included provisions for lifting sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme.
• The declaration addressed the political situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that an inclusive government with broad participation is the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability.
• All member states, except India, reaffirmed their support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Terrorism: The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
• Multilateralism: The principle of organizing relations between three or more states on the basis of cooperation.
• Global Governance: The framework of rules, institutions, and practices that guide and restrain conduct in the global system.