🕊️ A Defining Moment at the SCO Summit
At the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful and unambiguous message: “No double standards on terrorism are acceptable.” With Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seated in the same room, Modi’s words struck a chord across the bloc, culminating in a rare diplomatic consensus that echoed India’s long-standing stance on terrorism.
🇮🇳 India’s Stand: Clear, Firm, and Uncompromising
Modi’s speech was not just rhetoric—it was a strategic assertion of India’s moral and geopolitical position. He referenced the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives, calling it “an attack on India’s soul and a challenge to humanity.” He urged SCO nations to reject selective approaches to terrorism and emphasized the need for a united front against all forms of extremism.
📜 The Tianjin Declaration: A Diplomatic Coup
In a significant diplomatic win for India, the SCO’s Tianjin Declaration explicitly condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for justice against its perpetrators. The declaration mirrored Modi’s message, stating that “double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable.” Member states also rejected the use of terrorist and separatist groups for mercenary purposes—a veiled rebuke to Pakistan’s historical associations with cross-border terrorism.
😓 Pakistan’s Diplomatic Dilemma
For Pakistan, the summit was a moment of discomfort. With its Prime Minister present, the SCO’s unified stance against terrorism—especially in the context of the Pahalgam attack—was a diplomatic facepalm. The declaration’s language, though not naming Pakistan directly, left little room for ambiguity. It was a clear signal that the international community is losing patience with state-sponsored terror and selective condemnation.
🌐 India’s Broader Message: Security, Sovereignty, and Connectivity
Beyond terrorism, Modi also emphasized the importance of respecting sovereignty in connectivity projects—a subtle critique of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He reiterated India’s commitment to initiatives like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor, which aim to foster trust and development across Central Asia.
🔍 Strategic Implications
This summit marked a turning point in India’s diplomatic outreach. By aligning the SCO’s narrative with its own, India not only isolated Pakistan on the issue of terrorism but also reinforced its role as a responsible regional power. The Tianjin Declaration is more than a statement—it’s a signal that the world is ready to call out duplicity and stand united against terror.
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