Let's not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for point scoring: Bilawal

Calling SCO a platform of mutual understanding and security Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that the potential of peace can be unlocked when great powers play the role of peacemakers as he addressed the SCOCouncil of Foreign Ministers meet in GoaIn his keynote address at SCO Foreign Ministers meeting Zardari urged to collectively eradicate the menace of terrorism Lets not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring he saidThis comes after Jaishankar talked about crossborder terrorism in his opening address at the SCO meet and underlined how it continues unabated He added by saying that it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations including crossborder terrorismZardari is here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Council of Foreign Ministers CFM and incidentally the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India in almost 12 yearsReiterating Pakistans commitment to multilateralism Bilawal further added Unilateral and illegal measures by States in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions run counter to the SCO objectivesRelations between India and Pakistan have been precarious for many years with regard to issues of crossborder terrorism from Pakistan even as Islamabad has been seeking the restoration of Article 370 for the former Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir for any talksOn April 20 recently an Army vehicle passing Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir was fired upon by unidentified terrorists likely through grenades which lead to the death of five soldiersAs per sources the terrorists were suspected to have been from the LashkareTaiba LeTIn his address Zardari highlighted SCOs role as an intergovernmental organization He said SCO has emerged as a platform for promoting mutual understanding security and development through constructive and mutually beneficial cooperationHe also urged for collective action and stated that the collective security of our people is our joint responsibility during his address in GoaAlso Read PM Modi to visit France attend Bastille Day Parade as Guest of HonourZardari reiterated Pakistans strong commitment to SCO There couldnt be a more powerful indication of the importance that Pakistan attaches to the SCO than my presence here in Goa for this CFM the Pakistan Foreign Minister said on his arrival in IndiaEarlier today External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar greeted Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with a Namastey in Goa at a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation OrganisationThe twodaylong meeting of SCO member states began here on ThursdayVisuals showed the Jaishankar greeting Zardari in Indian tradition with a Namastey avoiding a handshakeOn his arrival in the coastal State yesterday Zardari had said he looks forward to constructive discussions with his counterparts from friendly countries The Pakistan minister was received at the airport by Indian diplomat JP Singh Joint Secretary PakistanAfghanistanIran deskThe Pakistan politician is attending the SCO conclave at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S JaishankarThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever