New Delhi | September 1, 2025

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025, marked a decisive shift in the way international forums are addressing terrorism, particularly in relation to India. For the first time, the SCO joint declaration directly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. This pointed reference is being viewed as a significant diplomatic victory for New Delhi, especially considering Pakistan is a full member of the SCO.

Contrast with Qingdao Meeting

Just over two months earlier, on June 26, India had refused to sign the joint declaration at the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, also in China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had objected strongly since that declaration failed to mention Pahalgam, despite referencing incidents in Pakistan. India’s stand then was clear: any selective acknowledgment of terrorism would not be acceptable.

This firm stance appears to have yielded results. The Tianjin declaration now not only condemns the Pahalgam attack but also stresses that double standards in fighting terrorism are “unacceptable.” This shift highlights India’s growing influence in shaping the narrative within multilateral organizations.

Modi’s Strong Words on Terror

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the summit, reiterated India’s long-standing position against selective approaches to terrorism. Without naming Pakistan, he drew attention to “some nations” that openly support terror networks. He emphasized that the SCO, which includes China, Russia, and Iran among its members, must uphold unity in the fight against terrorism. His remarks were reflected in the final declaration, which called for bringing “perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors” of the Pahalgam attack to justice.

This alignment of India’s position with the SCO declaration underscores a growing consensus that terror in any form cannot be justified or overlooked, regardless of the nation involved.

Diplomatic Balancing Amid US Pressure

The Tianjin summit also came at a sensitive time in India’s foreign policy. The US, under President Donald Trump, has imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian trade, half of which is framed as a penalty for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Trump has even claimed he “stopped a war between India and Pakistan” after the Pahalgam attack by using trade leverage—a claim India rejects as inaccurate.

India, however, has firmly defended its sovereign choices. Oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently argued that India’s purchase of Russian oil has actually stabilized global markets by keeping prices in check. At the SCO, Modi’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin further reinforced India’s strategic independence, ensuring it is not boxed in by Western pressures.

A Win for India’s Narrative

The inclusion of Pahalgam in the Tianjin declaration is more than symbolic. It represents recognition by major global players—including Pakistan’s traditional allies—that terrorism cannot be treated selectively. For India, this is both a diplomatic and moral victory, as it pushes forward its stance that global unity, without double standards, is essential in tackling terror.

As Modi stated at the summit, the fight against terrorism requires consistency, fairness, and a clear message: no nation can be allowed to harbor or justify terror while seeking legitimacy on the international stage.