Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan has not changed its Kashmir policy and that India must withdraw its unilateral decision on the occupied Kashmir to enable a conducive environment for bilateral talks.

Talking to a group of Indian and Pakistan journalists in Goa following Shangai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference, Bilawal Bhutto said that participating in the SCO provided an opportunity to meet all the foreign ministers.

Regarding relations with India, the Foreign Minister said that there is no change in Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir. We want to improve our relations with India, but it is now their responsibility to create an environment for the restoration of talks, he said.

Bilawal Bhutto said India’s action in Kashmir has violated the United Nations resolution and the change in the status of Kashmir had caused all the problems.

India abolished the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

Speaking about his interaction with Indian counterpart Jaishankar, Bilawal said the Indian foreign minister never gave him the impression that our bilateral relations had an impact on this conference.

Recently India refused to issue visas to the Pakistan blind cricket team. Bilawal said sports should be separated from politics and foreign policy.

The foreign minister said Pakistan was fighting terrorism because it came under terror attacks.

Weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point-scoring

Earlier, in his address to the SCO meeting, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the regional states to shun using terrorism as a diplomatic tool.

“The collective security of our peoples is our joint responsibility,” he said in his address to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Friday to urge member nations to refrain from using terrorism as a diplomatic tool. “Let’s not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring.”

His statements were shared by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Twitter.

In a widely shared photograph, the Pakistani foreign minister was seen with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar ahead of the meeting. SCO foreign ministers began to gather in Goa on Thursday for Friday’s meetings on regional security matters.

Bilawal went on to add that unilateral and illegal measures by states in violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions run “counter” to the SCO objectives.

Pakistan cut off trade ties with its archrival after India unilaterally scrapped the autonomous status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir given under the Indian constitution.

“When great powers play role of peace maker, we can unlock potential of peace while paving way for greater cooperation, regional integration and economic opportunities for our peoples,” said Bilawal.

Earlier, Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar highlighted the issue of cross-border terrorism in his address.

“The menace of terrorism continues unabated. We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism,” he said.

“While the world was engaged in facing Covid and its consequences, the menace of terrorism continues unabated. Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests,” Hindustan Times quoted the Indian foreign minister as saying.

“We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism,” said Jaishankar.

Jaishankar added that the unfolding situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power “remains at the centre of our attention”. He called for efforts to have the welfare of the Afghan people.

Bilawal also spoke about the Afghanistan situation. “A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a key not only to regional integration and economic cooperation but also to global peace and stability.”

He called for enhancing regional connectivity through the SCO on Friday. “SCO could be a key platform for taking the vision of Eurasian connectivity to the next level.”

He reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to the SCO saying: “There couldn’t be a more powerful indication of the importance that Pakistan attaches to the SCO than my presence here in Goa for this CFM.”

The FM underscored the importance of Pakistan’s accords to principles of mutual trust and shared development as enshrined in the ‘Shanghai Spirit.’ “Pakistan strongly believes in and fully adheres to principles of mutual trust, shared development enshrined in original Shanghai Spirit.”

Moreover, calling for collective action against the climate crisis he said that it poses an existential threat to humanity.

Meeting with foreign ministers

Earlier, Bilawal met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the Indian state on the sidelines of the SCO conference.

They discussed bilateral, regional, and international matters of mutual interest and vowed to work closely for further deepening cooperation in food security, energy & people to people contacts, a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation opens new vistas of cooperation & coordination with Russia, the statement said.

Moreover, he also met Uzbekistan FM Bakhtiyor Saidov on the sidelines.

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, they discussed matters of bilateral interest with a special focus on economic ties and enhancing regional connectivity.

Apart from that, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming also called on the Pakistani FM. Bilawal briefed the SG on the activities of SCO in pursuance of the vision of SCO leadership.

“SG thanked FM for Pakistan’s consistent support to SCO and appreciated its constructive contributions towards strengthening reg. coop, connectivity, peace and prosperity,” FO tweeted.

The Pakistan foreign minister also met his Tajikistan counterpart Sirodjiddin Mukhriddin on the sidelines.

They discussed the broad spectrum of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen economic ties and early completion of connectivity projects in particular CASA-1000.

Bilawal is also meeting other foreign ministers at the conference and has said that his visit to India “clearly illustrates” Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of the SCO.

Upon arriving in Goa, he was received by the Indian officials. He is accompanied by a delegation that includes Asad Majeed Khan, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Ilyas Nizami, and others.

“I’m very happy to be here in Goa for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting,” he told media in Goa. “I hope that SCO’s CFM would be successful.”

“On my way to Goa, India,” he wrote on Twitter. “I will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO.”

He made these comments in a video message shared on Twitter, just before leaving for Goa, India, where SCO’s Council of Foreign Ministers is going to take place.

India currently holds the rotating presidency of the SCO, which was established in 2001 and is considered a political, economic, and security organisation to rival Western institutions. The SCO is an eight-member political and security bloc that includes Russia and China.

He went on to add: “During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries.”

This is the first visit of a Pakistani foreign minister to India since 2011.

A group of around a dozen Pakistani journalists will also attend the event. Media interactions on the international stage often make some of the biggest headlines and two particular instances will explain how loud things can get.

Meanwhile, the international media sees the Pakistani foreign minister’s visit as an attempt to kick-start a reconciliation process with India.

With elections looming in both India and Pakistan, the experts won’t see any melting of ice in both countries’ relationships.

Moreover, Pakistan’s government would risk serious political damage by extending a hand to an Indian administration resented in Pakistan because of its Kashmir policies and treatment of Indian Muslims.

The Foreign Policy sees Bilawal’s visit as a regional imperative for Pakistan, not a bilateral one.

The publication believes by skipping the SCO summit, Islamabad would risk losing clout within the organisation and ultimately “limits the influence” of New Delhi.

PTI condemns Bilawal’s visit

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry “strongly” condemned Bilawal’s visit to India stating that participation would have been possible on video.

“Participation would have been possible on video but [the] problem is you people in love of Modi are ready to disregard atrocities committed by Modi janta in Kashmir, and hardships Muslims of India and minorities to make Modi janta happy,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s foreign policy was “dead by all definitions of the word”.

Meanwhile, Shireen Mazari said the “imported” foreign minister was desperate to go to Goa.

With additional input from Aaj News web desk.