Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and called on member nations to adopt a clear, united stance against the use of double standards in dealing with such threats. Addressing a gathering that included Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Modi referred to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, as a “disgusting form of terrorism” and “an open challenge to every country, every person who believes in humanity.”
“India has been suffering the brunt of ruthless terrorism for the last four decades. So many mothers lost their children and so many children became orphans,” he said, without directly naming Pakistan. “Recently, we saw a very disgusting form of terrorism in Pahalgam. This attack was not only a blow to India’s conscience, it was an open challenge to every person who believes in humanity.” Modi posed a direct question to the gathering: “Can the open support of terrorism by some countries be acceptable to us?”
India had earlier called for a strong condemnation of cross-border terrorism in the SCO’s joint statement. The final declaration reflected this, stating, “The Member States strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the dead and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice.”
Reinforcing this message, Modi said, “SCO member states must clearly and unanimously state that no double standards on terrorism will be acceptable. We must jointly oppose all forms of terrorism.”
The Indian Prime Minister highlighted security, connectivity, and opportunity as the three pillars of the SCO’s cooperation. He emphasised that peace and stability are essential for development, but terrorism, extremism, and separatism remain serious threats. “No country, no society, no citizen can consider themselves safe from it. That is why India has emphasised unity in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
PM Modi noted that the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has played a key role in countering terrorism and shared that India had taken the lead this year in a “joint information operation” targeting al-Qaeda and related groups. He also highlighted India’s efforts to counter terror financing and its proposal to enhance coordination to combat radicalisation.
In a veiled reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which India opposes for passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Modi cautioned against connectivity projects that disregard sovereignty. “Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty loses trust and meaning,” he said, affirming that India backs initiatives such as Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor to enhance trade links with Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister also revisited his earlier statements criticising Pakistan’s approach to terrorism. In May, weeks after the Pahalgam attack, he had said, “While India believes in tourism, Pakistan considers terrorism as tourism, which is very dangerous for the world.” At the time, he had urged Pakistani citizens to choose peace and reflect on the consequences of supporting terrorism: “What have you achieved? Today, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world. But what is your situation? Those who promoted terrorism have destroyed your future.”
At the SCO summit, Modi reiterated India’s commitment to inclusive development and global reform. He called for modernisation of global institutions such as the United Nations, arguing that they must reflect the aspirations of the Global South. “Keeping the aspirations of the Global South confined to outdated frameworks is a grave injustice to future generations. We cannot show the multi-coloured dreams of the new generation on old black-and-white screens,” he said.
He proposed creating a Civilisational Dialogue Forum under the SCO to share cultural and historical legacies among member states. “Through this, we can share our ancient civilisations, art, literature, and traditions on a global platform,” he said.
Modi noted that India’s presidency of the SCO in 2023 had brought new momentum to the organisation by focusing on innovation, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage. Referring to India’s development strategy, he said: “India has adopted the mantra of reform, perform, and transform. This is opening up new opportunities for international cooperation along with development in the country. I invite all of you to join India’s development journey.”
He concluded by encouraging the SCO to act as a force for multilateralism and a more inclusive world order. He pointed to the creation of new SCO centres focused on combating emerging threats like cybercrime, organised crime, and drug trafficking as examples of the organisation adapting to modern challenges.
This year’s summit held additional weight, as it marked the first in-person encounter between Modi and Shehbaz Sharif since border tensions flared in May following India’s retaliatory strikes on terror infrastructure after the Pahalgam attack. It also came amid a downturn in India-US relations over tariffs and India’s Russian oil purchases adding strategic significance to Modi’s meetings with leaders like Putin and Xi.
