Let's not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring: Bilawal Bhutto

New Delhi: Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in his address to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers on Friday urged member nations to refrain from using terrorism as a diplomatic tool.

Speaking at the meeting in Goa, Bilawal called for greater cooperation among SCO countries in tackling terrorism and said joint efforts would be needed to address the root cause of the issue.

"The collective security of our people is our joint responsibility... Let's not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring," the foreign office of Pakistan quoted Bilawal as saying.


Earlier, Indian minister S Jaishankar addressed the SCO meeting, in which he highlighted the issue of cross-border terrorism and reminded member states to control cross-border terror.

The foreign office quoted Bilawal as saying: "Unilateral and illegal measures by states in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions run counter to the SCO objectives."

"When great powers play the role of peacemaker, we can unlock the potential of peace while paving the way for greater cooperation, regional integration and economic opportunities for our peoples," he said.

Speaking on Afghanistan, Bilawal said: "A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a key not only to regional integration and economic cooperation, but also to global peace and stability."