According to Jaishankar, Bilawal Bhutto’s conversation on the margins of the SCO focused solely on Indian issues.
On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Goa, which Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended, his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar said on Sunday that he is a good host if the guest is good, implying that Pakistan’s foreign minister does not qualify as a good host.
In response to a question during a meeting on the Modi government’s foreign policy in Mysore, Jaishankar stated that Pakistan’s foreign minister has been invited to the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting. “However, outside of the SCO meeting, he has only spoken about India, the G20, Kashmir, and a BBC documentary, but nothing about the SCO.” What exactly do I do as a host? I am an excellent host if I have a decent visitor. But…” Jaishankar spoke amid applause from the audience.
“We invited Pakistan’s foreign minister because there was a SCO meeting of foreign ministers.” When it comes to multilateral gatherings, you invite people to talk about a specific topic. He (Bilawal Bhutto) was invited as a representative of Pakistan to express his views on issues concerning the SCO. We could disagree…he may have his own position, I may have mine, and there is a SCO conference room where we could talk and disagree. That’s one issue,” Jaishankar remarked, explaining why he invited Bilawal to India.
Following the SCO conference, Jaishankar attacked Bilawal Bhutto, saying that the victims and perpetrators of terrorism should not sit together, in response to Bilawal’s remark about “weaponizing terrorism.” In response to Jaishankar’s remark, Pakistan’s foreign minister claimed he was frightened and uneasy because India’s “fake narrative” about Pakistan was harmed while Bilawal visited India.
“What do you mean we shouldn’t use terrorism as a weapon?” That means I’m meant to put up with it as a victim. So you not only perpetuate terrorism, but you also say, oh, please, don’t even bring it up? Come on, people. So, to me, that sentence stated a lot about the mindset of that country, which you can all see for yourselves,” Jaishankar added.
Regarding India’s demand for the port in Iran, Jaishankar stated that unless something extraordinary happens in Pakistan, India will have to find a method to build access in Central Asia and beyond. “It is not in our best interests to be at odds with Pakistan indefinitely.” That is not something anyone desires. It goes against logic. But we must draw the line somewhere. “I don’t think it should be business as usual if a neighbour attacks me,” Jaishankar remarked.
