India on Wednesday called upon the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members to commit to SCO Charter and respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.
Delivering his inaugural address at the Secretaries of Security Council of SCO member-nations in New Delhi, india’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval appealed to adhere to the SCO Charter to contribute to the regional and global security.
“The SCO Charter calls upon member states to have mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity of states and inviolability of state borders, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations and seeking no unilateral military superiority in adjacent areas,” Doval said.
He also informed the participants that New Delhi was ready to cooperate on investing and building connectivity in the region. However, he wants such initiatives in consultative, transparent and participatory mode.
Recent developments have posed challenges to the global security and the SCO region was also affected. Stressing that SCO Charter can contribute to address such challenges, Doval said “If we follow these unexceptional principles, we can make a significant contribution to our regional security and indeed global security.” He also pointed to the common bondage among the member countries and their common destiny. “Bonds of history, geography and culture make us natural partners. We are common stakeholders in peace, security, progress and prosperity of the region and we believe SCO can play a seminal role in this endeavour,” Doval said.
He condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and appealed to the SCO countries to fulfil their responsibilities under the UN resolutions.
“All countries should fulfil their obligations under counter-terrorism cooperation protocols, including UN Security Council resolutions 1267 and 1373 and successor resolutions, for the purpose of identifying and implementing sanctions against global terrorist entities,” Indian NSA said.
The SCO was formed in 2001 as a loose political and security union among China, Russia and some members of the former USSR. Several other countries including India and Pakistan joined it.
India became a member of the SCO in 2017 and currently it is presiding over it. The organization, which aspires to play a greater role in global politics has China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan as members, and Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia as observer states.
Source: Kuwait News Agency