Modi at SCO Summit: With Shehbaz Sharif watching, PM mentions Pahalgam attack in anti-terror message

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to deliver a sharp message against terrorism, invoking the ghastly attack in Pahalgam even as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sat among the leaders at the table.

Addressing the SCO Members Session in Tianjin, Modi said India has borne the brunt of terrorism for decades and stressed that the world must unite to oppose it “in every form and colour.”

The prime minister strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, describing it as “an open challenge to every country and person who believes in humanity.”

He expressed gratitude to nations that supported India during what he called “an hour of grief.”

“For the last four decades, India has been bearing the brunt of terrorism. We have to unanimously oppose terrorism in every form and colour. This is our duty towards humanity,” Modi said.

He underlined that security, peace and stability are essential for development, but warned that “terrorism, separatism and extremism are big challenges in this path.”

Modi noted India’s efforts in leading joint intelligence operations against Al Qaeda and its affiliates, as well as its campaign against terror financing.

While he did not name Pakistan, Modi’s remarks came in the presence of Sharif, whose country has long been sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a warm welcome and highlighted India’s role in the grouping since it was founded in 2001.

“In the last 24 years, India has played a positive role in the SCO. India's policy for the SCO is based on three pillars, where S is security, C is connectivity, and O is opportunity,” he said.

Xi, in his opening remarks, said the SCO was built on the “Shanghai spirit” of mutual trust, equality, consultation and respect for diverse civilizations. He praised the bloc’s history of military confidence-building and collective action against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

“Looking ahead, we should carry forward the Shanghai spirit in a world fraught with challenges and changes. We should seek common ground while putting aside differences,” Xi said.

He urged member states to strengthen solidarity and cooperation. “We should make the pie of cooperation bigger and fully utilise the endowment of every country so that we can fulfil our responsibility for peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region,” he said.

The SCO Summit meeting is underway at a specially designated convention centre where the leaders of the 10-member grouping, along with invited leaders, delivered opening remarks.

The speech of Prime Minister Modi was keenly watched for its content in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war and his meeting with Xi on Saturday, which was widely expected to provide a new road map for the ties.

Founded in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO has expanded from six founding members into a 26-nation family of 10 members, two observers and 14 dialogue partners spanning Asia, Europe and Africa.

This year’s summit was stated to be the largest 10-member SCO group as China, which holds the Presidency of the organisation this year, has invited 20 foreign leaders and 10 heads of international organisations, including the UN Secretary General António Guterres.