In a major diplomatic win for India, the declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam on April 22, stressing that “double standards” were unacceptable in the fight against terrorism.
The influential grouping listed its strong resolve to combat terrorism in a declaration that was unveiled at the end of its two-day annual summit at the Chinese port city that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and many other global leaders.
The statement read: “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.
It added 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.
This is seen as a major acknowledgment of India’s stance with regard to cross-border terrorism and Pakistan’s role in it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised concerns about cross-border terrorism in his speech at the Summit, stating how India has been a victim for the last four decades.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in attendance when Modi made the statement. “We have to speak in a united voice that no double standards on terrorism are acceptable,” the Prime Minister said.
