Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said the world is against seizing power by violence in the foreign ministers' meeting of SCO countries in Dushanbe, in a veiled reference to the Taliban’s attempt at military takeover in Afghanistan. 

Jaishankar stressed the need to cease “violence and terrorist attacks against civilians and state representatives, and asked to settle the conflict through political dialogue, and respect interests of all ethnic groups”. 

“The world is against seizure of power by violence and force. It will not legitimize such actions,” he tweeted. “Peace negotiations in earnest is the only answer. An acceptable compromise that reflects Doha process, Moscow format, and Istanbul process is essential,” he added.

A special meeting was organized in Tajikistan's capita, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and was attended by foreign ministers of India, China, Pakistan, and five other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). 

Jaishankar stated that it is important to ensure that neighbors were not threatened by terrorism, separatism, and extremism and that the “challenge was to act seriously and sincerely on these beliefs. Because there are forces at work with a very different agenda”. 

On Tuesday, he also held discussions with Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar. 

The SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organizations. India and Pakistan became their permanent members in 2017.

In a statement released by the SCO, foreign ministers called for a “purely peaceful settlement” of the conflict. 

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

(SAM)