Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a pointed message on terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, warning that countries that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy or provide shelter and support to terrorists must face a strong international response.
The timing of Modi's remarks was particularly significant. Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO from Kyrgyzstan at the summit, while Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present in the room.
Although Modi did not name Pakistan directly, his reference to countries using terrorism as a strategic tool was widely seen as a message aimed at Islamabad, reflecting India's long-standing concerns over cross-border terrorism.
Modi Calls for End to Double Standards on Terror
Addressing SCO leaders, Modi argued that the fight against terrorism cannot be reduced to responding to individual attacks after they happen.
Instead, he called for the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism to be dismantled, including terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.
He also stressed that countries must speak with one voice against terrorism and reject what he described as double standards in dealing with the threat.
Modi's central message was that terrorism should never be treated as a useful strategic instrument by any country.
The emphasis on the wider ecosystem is important because India's counter-terrorism position has increasingly focused not only on perpetrators but also on the networks and infrastructure that allow extremist organisations to survive.
Pakistan Takes SCO Chair as Modi Issues Warning
The remarks came as Pakistan took over the SCO's rotating chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan.
Pakistan will host the next SCO heads-of-state summit and is expected to invite the leaders of the member states, including Modi. The chairmanship therefore gives Islamabad an important diplomatic opportunity to shape the organisation's agenda over the coming year.
For India, however, Pakistan's leadership of a security-focused regional organisation creates an obvious diplomatic complication.
India and Pakistan have a deeply troubled relationship, with cross-border terrorism remaining one of New Delhi's central concerns in bilateral relations.
By raising terrorism in a multilateral setting without directly naming Pakistan, Modi was able to underline India's position while remaining within the diplomatic framework of the SCO.
Why Modi Did Not Directly Name Pakistan
The absence of Pakistan's name from Modi's remarks was significant.
The SCO's framework does not allow member states to use the organisation as a forum for raising bilateral disputes. As a result, India's criticism was framed around a broader principle rather than a direct accusation against another member.
This allowed Modi to make the issue of terrorism central to his intervention without turning the summit into an explicit India-Pakistan confrontation.
The message nevertheless carried clear political weight because Sharif was present and Pakistan was simultaneously taking over the organisation's chairmanship.
India's position has consistently been that terrorism cannot be separated from regional security, economic development and connectivity.
India Puts Security at Centre of SCO Vision
Modi linked the terrorism issue to India's broader vision for the SCO, built around three themes: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
According to the Indian readout, Modi argued that regional progress requires strong and trusted connectivity. At the same time, he stressed that connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
The position reflects India's concerns about infrastructure and transport initiatives that cross disputed or sensitive territories.
For New Delhi, economic connectivity can create opportunities for trade and investment, but such projects cannot come at the expense of national sovereignty.
Modi therefore presented security and connectivity as interconnected rather than separate priorities.
Modi Links Terrorism With Regional Development
A major element of Modi's speech was the argument that security is a prerequisite for development.
The SCO brings together major Eurasian powers and neighbouring states, making stability crucial for trade, investment, transportation and energy cooperation.
Terrorism can undermine those objectives by creating insecurity, disrupting economic activity and weakening public confidence.
Modi therefore presented counter-terrorism not merely as a military or security issue but as a foundation for the wider economic ambitions of the organisation.
He also stressed the importance of creating opportunities for young people, entrepreneurs and farmers across SCO countries, arguing that the success of regional cooperation should ultimately be measured by improvements in people's lives.
Afghanistan Remains Critical to SCO Security
Modi also highlighted Afghanistan as an important part of the SCO's security concerns.
He said peace and stability in Afghanistan were closely connected with the broader goal of building a peaceful and secure Eurasia.
India, he said, would continue contributing to Afghanistan's development and humanitarian needs.
Afghanistan's security is particularly important because militant networks, instability and cross-border security concerns have consequences for several SCO members.
Pakistan has also repeatedly raised concerns about militant groups operating from Afghan territory, while relations between Islamabad and Afghanistan's Taliban government have faced serious tensions.
That makes Afghanistan one of the areas where India's and Pakistan's security concerns can overlap, even though their approaches differ.
Modi Urges Dialogue Over Global Conflicts
The Indian prime minister also addressed the wider geopolitical instability affecting the global economy.
Referring to conflicts and tensions, Modi reiterated India's position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than on the battlefield.
He highlighted the impact of instability on energy security, maritime trade and global supply chains.
For developing countries and the broader Global South, such disruptions can be especially damaging because they can raise energy and food costs while affecting trade and investment.
India's message was therefore that the SCO should focus on practical cooperation capable of producing stability and economic opportunities.
Pakistan Defends Its Anti-Terrorism Record
Pakistan, meanwhile, presented a different narrative on terrorism at the summit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described terrorism as one of the region's gravest threats and highlighted Pakistan's role in counter-terrorism efforts.
He said Pakistan had suffered significant human and economic losses during its fight against terrorism, claiming that more than 90,000 people had been killed and that the country had endured economic losses exceeding $150 billion over the past two and a half decades.
Sharif also said Pakistan had worked to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation through the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
He separately raised concerns about militants operating from Afghan territory, arguing that continued attacks against Pakistan would make lasting regional peace difficult.
The contrasting positions underscored the complicated politics surrounding terrorism within the SCO.
India and Pakistan Face New Diplomatic Test
Pakistan's assumption of the SCO chairmanship creates a fresh diplomatic test for India.
New Delhi must participate in the organisation while continuing to raise concerns about terrorism and maintaining its bilateral position toward Islamabad.
The SCO provides India with an important platform because it includes China, Russia, Iran and several Central Asian states. It also allows New Delhi to pursue strategic cooperation without aligning itself exclusively with any major power bloc.
For Pakistan, the chairmanship offers an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to lead a diverse organisation focused on security and economic cooperation.
That makes the coming year particularly important for both countries.
SCO Faces Challenge of Turning Words Into Action
Modi's warning also raises a broader question for the SCO: can its members develop a genuinely unified approach to terrorism despite their different geopolitical interests?
The organisation has long identified terrorism, separatism and extremism as major regional security threats. Its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure is specifically designed to facilitate cooperation against such threats.
But political differences between member states can make collective action difficult.
India's insistence on avoiding double standards directly addresses this challenge. New Delhi argues that counter-terrorism cannot be effective if some groups or networks receive political protection or are treated differently depending on geopolitical considerations.
Modi's Message Puts Pakistan Chairmanship Under Focus
The SCO summit ultimately produced a striking diplomatic contrast.
Pakistan assumed leadership of the organisation at precisely the moment Modi used the forum to argue that terrorism must never be accepted as a strategic instrument.
Sharif defended Pakistan's record in combating terrorism, while Modi called for countries that shelter or support terrorists to face a clear international message.
Neither leader directly turned the summit into an India-Pakistan confrontation, but their contrasting positions demonstrated how deeply terrorism remains embedded in the region's diplomatic politics.
For India, the message was clear: regional cooperation, economic connectivity and development cannot succeed without security.
For Pakistan, the challenge during its year as SCO chair will be to demonstrate that it can lead the organisation on those priorities while navigating its difficult relationship with India.
The coming year will show whether the SCO can move beyond statements and develop stronger collective mechanisms against terrorism—or whether geopolitical differences will continue to limit its ability to act decisively.
Also Read: Palaniswami Mocks Vijay Over Growing PM Ambitions