Shanghai, Sept 1: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states on Monday issued a strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists. The 10-nation bloc called for those behind the assault to be held accountable without delay.
In a joint declaration released at the summit, the member states expressed condolences to the families of those killed and solidarity with the injured. “The perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice,” the statement said.
The SCO leaders also stressed that there could be no justification or “double standards” when it comes to fighting terrorism. “The Member States strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stress that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and call on the international community to combat terrorism, including cross-border movement of terrorists,” the declaration added.
The issue of terrorism featured prominently in the discussions, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting India’s concerns about cross-border militancy during his address. Ahead of his visit, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had noted that New Delhi expected a clear and collective denunciation of the Pahalgam attack.
India has consistently pressed for joint international action against terrorism and raised the need to address state-sponsored groups operating across borders. By securing explicit mention of the Pahalgam incident in the SCO declaration, Indian officials said the message was reinforced at a multilateral level.
Pakistan, which is also a member of the SCO, endorsed the declaration along with other nations. While the statement did not single out any country, the emphasis on cross-border terrorism and rejection of double standards echoed India’s long-standing diplomatic position.
The summit concluded with the bloc pledging closer cooperation on regional security and counter-terrorism measures.(KNS).
