External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (Nov 18) reiterated India's zero tolerance stance against terrorism in any form, stating that there can be "no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing" of terror. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Moscow, he asserted that India has the sovereign right to defend its citizens. Reminding that the SCO was founded specifically to combat "three evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, the external affairs minister said, "We must never forget that the SCO was founded to combat the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism. These threats have become even more serious in the years that have passed. It is imperative that the world displays zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-calls-for-ending-colonial-mindset-sets-10-year-deadline-narendra-modi-macaulay-ramnath-goenka-1763472219109">PM Modi calls for ending ‘colonial mindset’, sets 10-year deadline</a>&nbsp;"There can be no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing. As India has demonstrated, we have the right to defend our people against terrorism and will exercise it. In conclusion, India believes that SCO must adapt to the changing global landscape, develop an expanded agenda and reform its working methods. We will contribute positively and fully to these objectives," he emphasised. Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when India is facing an increasing level of security threats from a rise in terrorist activities following the November 10 car blast near Delhi's iconic Red Fort, which killed at least 15 people and injured many. The Union cabinet, following a preliminary investigation into the incident, declared the blast a "terror incident" in a resolution.<h2>Jaishankar advocates for reforms in the SCO</h2>The EAM, in his remark, pushed for modernisation of the 24-year-old organisation, calling for more flexibility, fresh thinking and resolution of long-pending decisions such as making English an official language of the SCO. Currently, Russian and Chinese are the official working languages of the grouping.&nbsp;"Let me now turn to the modernisation of the SCO. As the organisation continues to evolve, India strongly supports its reform-oriented agenda. We welcome centres addressing challenges such as organised crime, drug trafficking, and cybersecurity. As the organisation becomes more diverse, the SCO must be more flexible and more adaptable," he said.&nbsp;"To this end, the long-delayed decision to make English an official language of the SCO must be prioritised. We all recognise that the SCO must keep up with contemporary changes. That must be reflected in fresh thinking and new collaborations. India's initiatives, such as the SCO Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and the SCO Startup Forum, are good examples. They're aimed at promoting innovation and creativity, especially targeting the younger generation," he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jaishankar-meets-us-secretary-of-state-rubio-discusses-trade-and-global-issues-on-g7-sidelines-narendra-modi-donald-trump-united-states-india-1762970155938">Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Rubio, discusses trade and global issues on G7 sidelines</a>&nbsp;Jaishankar is in Moscow to attend the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO member states on November 17 and 18. Comprising 10 member countries in addition to India, SCO includes Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There are also several dialogue partners and observers. &nbsp;

Jaishankar asserted India's sovereign right to defend its citizens. He also reminded the members that SCO was founded to combat ‘three evils’ of terrorism, separatism and extremism. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (Nov 18) reiterated India's zero tolerance stance against terrorism in any form, stating that there can be "no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing" of terror. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Moscow, he asserted that India has the sovereign right to defend its citizens. Reminding that the SCO was founded specifically to combat "three evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, the external affairs minister said, "We must never forget that the SCO was founded to combat the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism. These threats have become even more serious in the years that have passed. It is imperative that the world displays zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." Also Read: PM Modi calls for ending ‘colonial mindset’, sets 10-year deadline "There can be no justification, no looking away and no whitewashing. As India has demonstrated, we have the right to defend our people against terrorism and will exercise it. In conclusion, India believes that SCO must adapt to the changing global landscape, develop an expanded agenda and reform its working methods. We will contribute positively and fully to these objectives," he emphasised. Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when India is facing an increasing level of security threats from a rise in terrorist activities following the November 10 car blast near Delhi's iconic Red Fort, which killed at least 15 people and injured many. The Union cabinet, following a preliminary investigation into the incident, declared the blast a "terror incident" in a resolution. Jaishankar advocates for reforms in the SCO The EAM, in his remark, pushed for modernisation of the 24-year-old organisation, calling for more flexibility, fresh thinking and resolution of long-pending decisions such as making English an official language of the SCO. Currently, Russian and Chinese are the official working languages of the grouping. "Let me now turn to the modernisation of the SCO. As the organisation continues to evolve, India strongly supports its reform-oriented agenda. We welcome centres addressing challenges such as organised crime, drug trafficking, and cybersecurity. As the organisation becomes more diverse, the SCO must be more flexible and more adaptable," he said. "To this end, the long-delayed decision to make English an official language of the SCO must be prioritised. We all recognise that the SCO must keep up with contemporary changes. That must be reflected in fresh thinking and new collaborations. India's initiatives, such as the SCO Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and the SCO Startup Forum, are good examples. They're aimed at promoting innovation and creativity, especially targeting the younger generation," he added. Also Read: Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Rubio, discusses trade and global issues on G7 sidelines Jaishankar is in Moscow to attend the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO member states on November 17 and 18. Comprising 10 member countries in addition to India, SCO includes Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There are also several dialogue partners and observers.

Jaishankar asserted India's sovereign right to defend its citizens. He also reminded the members that the SCO was founded to combat ‘three evils’ of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

'No justification, no looking away and no whitewashing': Jaishankar calls for 'zero tolerance' approach against terrorism at SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 kicked off in Tianjin, China, on Sunday (Aug 31), with dignitaries like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Russian President Vladimir Putin and others in attendance. The summit's packed agenda focuses on boosting unity and strengthening the voice of the Global South.&nbsp;The global summit comes on the heels of the June 2025 G7 summit, where leaders of seven advanced economies signed a statement supporting Israel's right to defend itself. Now, all eyes are on the SCO Summit, which observers believe will tackle key issues like enhancing security and reforming financial mechanisms. With the SCO summit underway, let's take a look at how SCO, and G7 match up.<h2>'Voice of Global South' Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</h2>The 2025 summit is China's fifth time hosting the SCO. Through the summit, China aims to help the SCO "enter a new stage of high-quality development characterised by greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productivity, and to make a greater contribution to building a community with a shared future for humanity", said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a statement to People's Daily.The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a security organisation consisting of 10 member countries - &nbsp;Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. While the bloc may not comprise the world's most developed nations, it boasts member nations that comprise a significant part of the world's population and GDP.SCO is often seen as a voice for the "Global South" and a conscious attempt to build an alternative to the US-led international order. The organisation is known to back non-interference, sovereignty and a multipolar world. &nbsp;<h2>'World's most advanced economies' G7</h2>On the other hand, the Group of Seven (G7) nations are the world's most advanced economies. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While India is not a member nation, the South Asian nation has become a regular and influential invitee to the summit's "outreach sessions".<h2>SCO vs G7</h2>Economic power: While the G7 has traditionally held the economic advantage, the expanding SCO and BRICS blocs are gaining ground. The SCO's combined GDP, as per reports, is approaching that of the G7. The SCO grouping is also actively working to create alternative financial and trading systems to reduce reliance on the US dollar and Western-led institutions.Political cohesion: The G7's strength lies in its shared values and deep-seated cooperation. It can act with a largely coherent voice on global issues. In contrast, the SCO, despite issuing joint declarations, is a much looser framework. Deep-seated rivalries and differing national interests among its members, such as between India and China, limit its ability to take unified, decisive action.Military and security: The G7 is not a military alliance itself, but its members are at the core of NATO, a highly integrated and powerful military bloc. The SCO, while focused on security, is not a collective defense pact like NATO. Its members actively avoid a NATO-like alliance structure, and their military cooperation is more limited to counter-terrorism and regional security.

The G7 represents the world's most advanced economies, while the SCO is seen as a voice for the Global South. Let's have a look at how G7, and SCO compare.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 kicked off in Tianjin, China, on Sunday (Aug 31), with dignitaries like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Russian President Vladimir Putin and others in attendance. The summit's packed agenda focuses on boosting unity and strengthening the voice of the Global South. The global summit comes on the heels of the June 2025 G7 summit, where leaders of seven advanced economies signed a statement supporting Israel's right to defend itself. Now, all eyes are on the SCO Summit, which observers believe will tackle key issues like enhancing security and reforming financial mechanisms. With the SCO summit underway, let's take a look at how SCO, and G7 match up. 'Voice of Global South' Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) The 2025 summit is China's fifth time hosting the SCO. Through the summit, China aims to help the SCO "enter a new stage of high-quality development characterised by greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productivity, and to make a greater contribution to building a community with a shared future for humanity", said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a statement to People's Daily. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a security organisation consisting of 10 member countries - Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. While the bloc may not comprise the world's most developed nations, it boasts member nations that comprise a significant part of the world's population and GDP. SCO is often seen as a voice for the "Global South" and a conscious attempt to build an alternative to the US-led international order. The organisation is known to back non-interference, sovereignty and a multipolar world. 'World's most advanced economies' G7 On the other hand, the Group of Seven (G7) nations are the world's most advanced economies. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While India is not a member nation, the South Asian nation has become a regular and influential invitee to the summit's "outreach sessions". SCO vs G7 Economic power: While the G7 has traditionally held the economic advantage, the expanding SCO and BRICS blocs are gaining ground. The SCO's combined GDP, as per reports, is approaching that of the G7. The SCO grouping is also actively working to create alternative financial and trading systems to reduce reliance on the US dollar and Western-led institutions. Political cohesion: The G7's strength lies in its shared values and deep-seated cooperation. It can act with a largely coherent voice on global issues. In contrast, the SCO, despite issuing joint declarations, is a much looser framework. Deep-seated rivalries and differing national interests among its members, such as between India and China, limit its ability to take unified, decisive action. Military and security: The G7 is not a military alliance itself, but its members are at the core of NATO, a highly integrated and powerful military bloc. The SCO, while focused on security, is not a collective defense pact like NATO. Its members actively avoid a NATO-like alliance structure, and their military cooperation is more limited to counter-terrorism and regional security.

The G7 represents the world's most advanced economies, while the SCO is seen as a voice for the Global South. Let's have a look at how G7, and SCO compare.

G7 vs SCO: Which bloc holds real power, can one stand up to the other?

sco-vs-g7

Sco Vs G7, News on Sco Vs G7, stories on Sco Vs G7, articles on Sco Vs G7, Sco Vs G7 stories at Wion, Sco Vs G7 news, Sco Vs G7 latest news

sco vs-g7

'No justification, no looking away and no whitewashing': Jaishankar calls for 'zero tolerance' approach against terrorism at SCO

G7 vs SCO: Which bloc holds real power, can one stand up to the other?