Prime Minister calls for dialogue over war, warning that regional conflicts now threaten global energy, trade and supply chains….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated India’s call for conflicts and tensions to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than on the battlefield, warning that wars in one region can have consequences across the world.
Addressing the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, PM Modi said the ongoing crisis in West Asia had demonstrated the far-reaching impact of regional conflicts on global energy security, maritime trade and supply chains.
“In today’s interconnected world, the scope of security has expanded even further. The crisis in West Asia has shown that conflict in one region is not confined to that region,” he said.
“It impacts the entire world’s energy security, maritime trade and supply chains. Countries in the Global South bear the brunt of this. Therefore, India has been calling for the resolution of all tensions and wars through dialogue and diplomacy, not on the battlefield.”
The Prime Minister also raised concerns over terrorism, saying the international community must act collectively to dismantle networks involved in terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and providing safe havens.
“There can be no room for double standards on this serious issue,” Modi said, adding that countries using terrorism as an instrument of policy or providing shelter to terrorists must receive a strong message that “terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone”.
He also highlighted drug trafficking as a major threat to young people and regional security, welcoming new SCO initiatives aimed at tackling security threats, organised crime, information security and narcotics.
Modi said such mechanisms should become effective tools for practical coordination and timely action.
On regional connectivity, the Prime Minister said India supported efforts to link markets, facilitate trade and create new opportunities for development, while stressing that such projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
Outlining India’s approach to the SCO, Modi identified three key pillars — Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting the development and humanitarian needs of Afghanistan.
Reflecting on the SCO’s 25-year journey, Modi said the organisation had built a strong foundation for dialogue and cooperation across Eurasia and called on member states to translate that cooperation into tangible results over the next quarter-century.
“Now, in the coming twenty-five years, our goal must be to translate this cooperation into tangible results,” he said.
