The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, during its annual summit held in China’s coastal city of Tianjin. The joint declaration, released at the conclusion of the two-day summit, rejected any form of “double standards” in the fight against terrorism, echoing India’s stance.
The declaration was endorsed by leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and several other global representatives. It denounced terrorism in all forms and called for stronger regional security cooperation.
SCO member states also condemned Israel’s strikes on Gaza, which have led to mass civilian casualties and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the region. The declaration noted that terrorism, separatism, and extremism remain major threats, stressing that these elements must not be exploited for political or private interests.
The statement specifically mentioned the April 22 Pahalgam attack, as well as terror strikes in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on the Khuzdar and Jaffer Express trains. It expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, urging that perpetrators, planners, and supporters of such attacks must face strict punishment.
Reaffirming its commitment to counterterrorism, the SCO emphasized the crucial role of sovereign states and their agencies in combating such threats. It also underlined the need for unified international efforts, particularly against cross-border terrorism, while highlighting the central role of the United Nations and the importance of implementing UNSC resolutions and the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
