Jaishankar Urges SCO to Take Firm Stand Against Terrorism After Pahalgam Attack
TIANJIN, CHINA – At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Tianjin on July 15, 2025, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for a resolute and unyielding approach to countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Addressing representatives from member states, including Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Jaishankar highlighted the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, as a stark illustration of these threats.
Jaishankar emphasized that the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives, was a calculated act aimed at crippling the region’s tourism-driven economy and inciting religious discord. He noted that the United Nations Security Council, including some SCO members, issued a strong condemnation of the attack, stressing the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors accountable. “India has acted on this commitment and will continue to do so,” Jaishankar stated, urging the SCO to uphold its founding principles by adopting an uncompromising stance against terrorism.
The minister also addressed broader regional and global challenges, noting that the international system faces growing disorder, marked by increased conflicts, competition, and coercion. He advocated for stabilizing the global order and mitigating risks through collective action. Jaishankar underscored the importance of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and territorial integrity in fostering cooperation among SCO nations, a subtle critique of initiatives like China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has faced scrutiny for disregarding sovereignty.
On Afghanistan, an SCO observer state, Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to supporting its people and called on other members to enhance humanitarian and development aid to promote regional stability. He also pushed for improved trade and transit links within the SCO, specifically endorsing the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as an alternative to other regional connectivity projects. The absence of assured transit routes, he argued, undermines economic cooperation efforts.
Jaishankar’s remarks came during a two-day visit to China, his first since the 2020 border tensions. Earlier that day, he joined other SCO foreign ministers in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where he conveyed greetings from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed recent developments in India-China relations.
The SCO meeting, attended by ministers from Russia, Iran, Belarus, and Central Asian states, focused on preparing for the upcoming leaders’ summit in autumn, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate. No joint statement was issued, reflecting ongoing differences among members, particularly on terrorism-related issues, as seen in a prior SCO defense ministers’ meeting where Pakistan objected to referencing the Pahalgam attack.
Jaishankar’s address underscored India’s firm stance on terrorism, shaped by its response to the Pahalgam attack, including Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. The minister’s call for unity and decisive action signals India’s intent to prioritize counter-terrorism within the SCO’s agenda.