BEIJING, March 21 (INP): Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Vladimir Norov Thursday lauded Pakistan and India for showing restraint and moving ahead to seek political and diplomatic solution of their bilateral disputes.

“We are glad that the calls for restraint from the SCO member States were responded positively,” he said here at a news conference, while commenting on Indo-Pak tension.

The Secretary General observed that on joining the SCO as full members, the two countries have committed themselves to strictly implement all provisions of its legal framework that was aimed at promoting peace, stability and development in the region.

“One of such fundamental obligations is not to bring bilateral contradictions and disagreements to the SCO family, as the SCO is not supposed to settle disputable of bilateral nature.

“The bilateral disputes must be resolved through mutual consultations,” he added. Most important condition for participation in multi-disciplinary cooperation within the SCO was the commitment to unconditional and consistent struggle against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Otherwise, he added, it would not be possible for the two States to participate in the SCO, he added.

Vladimir Norov further said that India and Pakistan had some common grounds to join SCO and to work for regional peace and security.

He pointed out that India and Pakistan have been participating in the activities of the Organization as observers for 12 years and their accession to the SCO was preceded by a fairly long preparatory stage.

Vladimir Norov further said that India and Pakistan had common grounds to work within framework of SCO and to ensure regional security.

He pointed out that India and Pakistan had been participating in the activities of the Organization as observers for 12 years and their accession to the SCO was preceded by a fairly long preparatory work.

Vladimir Norov further said that India and Pakistan had common grounds to work within framework of SCO and to ensure regional security.

He pointed out that the two countries have been participating in the activities of the Organization as observers for 12 years and their accession to the SCO was preceded by a fairly long preparatory stage.

Currently, representatives of India and Pakistan are actively working in the two permanent bodies of the organization – the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

Both the countries also took part in the activities of all SCO working mechanisms.

“More than 300 servicemen of India and Pakistan took part in the international anti-terrorist exercises “Peace Mission-2018”, which took place at the Chebarkul test site of the Chelyabinsk region of Russia at the end of August 2018, which testifies to the joint and effective work of these two countries within the SCO,” he added.

He viewed that the accession to the SCO of two large and influential States of South Asia was of particular importance for the Organization and for the Eurasian region, as well as for the accession States (India and Pakistan) themselves.

Vladimir Norov said that being at the same negotiating table, and on a regular basis and in different formats, India and Pakistan were now in the process of a permanent dialogue on all issues which are currently in the agenda of the SCO, he added.

“It is well known that constant dialogue, especially based on the convergence of long-term strategic interests, contributes to the strengthening of mutual understanding, trust and the search for new points of contact,” he added.

INP/J/SB