Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has delivered one of his strongest messages yet on global counterterrorism efforts, urging the international community to abandon what he called the “whitewashing” of terrorism and adopt a firm, universal stance against extremist violence. Speaking at the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow on November 18, the Indian foreign minister framed terrorism as a defining challenge of the 21st century-one that demands clarity, consistency, and collective resolve.

Jaishankar emphasized that the SCO, since its inception, was created to counter the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and extremism. According to him, fulfilling that mandate requires more than statements-it requires action, sincerity, and the political will to confront terror networks regardless of their ideological, geographic, or strategic context. “It is imperative that the world displays zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he stated. “There can be no justification, no looking away, and no whitewashing.”

The Indian minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of long-standing friction in South Asia, particularly related to cross-border terrorism. New Delhi has repeatedly criticized nations that, in its view, provide safe havens, ideological backing, or material support to extremist groups targeting India. While Jaishankar avoided naming specific countries, his warning against “whitewashing” terrorism was widely interpreted as an indirect message to Pakistan and to global powers that have hesitated to call out state-linked militant networks.

Jaishankar also reaffirmed India’s long-standing policy that it has both the “right and responsibility” to defend its citizens from terrorism. This assertion aligns with........

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