Tianjin (China): The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and endorsed India’s stance that “double standards” in countering terrorism are unacceptable.
In a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of its two-day annual summit in Tianjin, the influential bloc reaffirmed its determination to fight terrorism. The summit was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and several other world leaders.
The declaration also denounced Israeli military strikes in Gaza, citing heavy civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. It stressed that combating terrorism remains one of the most urgent challenges to regional security.
“The member states strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22,” the document stated. The SCO also condemned the terror strikes in Khuzdar and on the Jaffer Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, extending condolences to the victims’ families and insisting that the perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors must be brought to justice.
Reaffirming its firm stand against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the SCO warned against the misuse of such groups for “mercenary purposes.” It underlined the sovereign responsibility of states and their security agencies in tackling these 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,” the declaration said.
The SCO further emphasised the UN’s central role in implementing Security Council resolutions and the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, in line with the UN Charter and international law, to collectively defeat all terrorist groups.
