SCO declaration signed in Tianjin, condemns Pahalgam attack: 'Unacceptable'

PM Modi, at the SCO Summit in China, called terrorism the 'gravest concern'

The Tianjin Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was signed on Monday.

"The Member States strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the dead and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice," reads the declaration.

The April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam claimed 26 innocent lives.

The declaration also stated that the member states, while reaffirming their firm commitment to the fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, stress the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist and extremist groups for mercenary purposes. "They recognise the leading role of sovereign States and their competent authorities in countering terrorist and extremist threats. 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," read the declaration.

In the presence of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif at the SCO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a strong message, said that terrorism must be opposed in every form without exception or double standards.

Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack, the Prime Minister questioned whether open support for terrorism by certain nations can ever be acceptable.

“The Pahalgam terror attack was not just an attack on India’s soul but an open challenge to all those countries that have faith in humanity. It raises a serious question – should a country openly supporting terrorism be acceptable to any of us? We must state clearly that no double standards will be tolerated in the fight against terrorism," PM Modi said, as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present at the event.

The Prime Minister also urged the SCO group to adopt zero tolerance against terrorism.

The declaration also condemned terror strikes ine Pakistan, including the Jaffer Express bombing and the Khuzdar attack on May 21. "Member States also strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on Jaffer Express on 11 March and in Khuzdar on 21 May 2025," it noted.

The Declaration also echoed the theme of “One Earth, One Family and One Future”.  "Taking into account the views of member states, they reaffirmed the relevance of initiatives to promote cooperation in building a new type of international relations in the spirit of mutual respect, justice, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as the formation of a common vision of the idea of creating a community of shared future for mankind and developing dialogue on the idea of "One Earth. One Family. One Future." Member States call on the international community to join the SCO Initiative "On Global Unity for a Just World, Harmony and Development," it said.