Pahalgam terror attack condemned as member states unite behind Modi’s strong anti-terror call.
New Delhi, 1,September 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, marking his first visit to the country since relations soured after the 2020 border clashes. The SCO, a major regional grouping comprising China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian nations, focuses on political, economic, and security cooperation and is increasingly seen as an alternative to Western alliances.
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with several leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. His meeting with Xi signaled an effort to stabilize ties, with both leaders pledging to address border issues and enhance cooperation. Modi emphasized that relations between India and China are moving in a “meaningful direction” and noted that the border situation is now more peaceful after disengagement. Xi expressed hope for “sustained, healthy and stable” progress in bilateral ties.
In his talks with President Putin, Modi underlined the strength of India-Russia relations despite global geopolitical strains. Both leaders traveled together for their bilateral meeting, a gesture highlighting their personal rapport. During the summit proceedings, Putin defended Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, blaming the West for fueling the crisis, while also welcoming India and China’s role in facilitating dialogue. He stressed that recent discussions with the US could open doors to peace.
At the SCO plenary session, PM Modi raised the issue of terrorism, calling it a collective challenge to humanity and condemning double standards in addressing the menace. The SCO strongly echoed his stance, issuing a joint statement that condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack and stressed that perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism must be held accountable. Modi reiterated that connectivity projects under the SCO must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting India’s initiatives such as the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor.
The summit also witnessed Chinese and Russian leaders taking sharp swipes at the West, with Xi criticizing “bullying behavior” by certain countries and Putin accusing Western powers of provoking the Ukraine conflict. Despite the tense global environment, the Tianjin summit showcased India’s active role in shaping regional cooperation, with Modi stressing youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and cultural exchange as priorities that can take the SCO beyond governments and closer to the people.
Friendly exchanges between Modi, Putin, and Xi during the summit grabbed attention, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared sidelined as India’s strong anti-terror message dominated the proceedings. The SCO’s collective condemnation of terrorism, alignment on regional connectivity, and calls for alternative global frameworks underscored the bloc’s growing influence in world affairs.
