Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a pointed warning against state-sponsored terrorism at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 1 September, demanding that countries harbouring or funding terror groups receive a unified and unambiguous message from the international community. Speaking at the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, Modi asserted that terrorism cannot be treated as a “strategic asset for anyone” — a formulation widely read as a direct signal to Pakistan, a fellow SCO member.

The Core Warning on Terrorism

Modi called for dismantling what he described as the full “ecosystem” of terror — spanning financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens — rather than merely responding to individual attacks. “We cannot limit ourselves to a mindset of action and reaction,” he said. He pressed SCO members to “speak with one voice” and ruled out any tolerance for double standards on the issue.

“Those countries which make terrorism a tool of their policy, provide shelter and support to terrorists, will have to be given a strong message that terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone,” Modi stated. The remarks carried particular weight given that India and Pakistan — long at odds over cross-border terrorism — both sit within the 10-member SCO bloc.

West Asia Conflict and Global Security Spillovers

Modi broadened his address to flag the cascading consequences of the West Asia conflict, arguing that regional wars no longer stay regional. He warned that the crisis is already disrupting energy security, maritime trade, and global supply chains, with nations in the Global South absorbing a disproportionate share of the fallout.

“Countries in the Global South bear the brunt of this. Therefore, India has been calling for the resolution of all tensions and wars through dialogue and diplomacy, not on the battlefield,” he said. The statement reaffirmed India’s consistent position of strategic non-alignment on the Russia-Ukraine and West Asia fronts while pressing for negotiated outcomes.

Drug Trafficking, Connectivity, and the Three Pillars

The Prime Minister flagged drug trafficking as a mounting threat to regional youth and security, welcoming new SCO centres being set up to tackle organised crime, information security, and narcotics as a “positive step.” He urged that these institutions be made into effective operational instruments rather than ceremonial bodies.

Modi outlined three pillars guiding India’s engagement with the SCO: Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity. On connectivity, he expressed India’s support for trade-facilitating infrastructure while attaching a firm condition: “Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is essential in these efforts. This is also the core spirit of the SCO Charter.” The caveat is widely understood as India’s standing objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

People-Driven Cooperation and India’s SCO Initiatives

Modi argued that SCO cooperation must move beyond government-to-government channels and become genuinely people-driven. He highlighted India’s contributions including the Start-up Forum, the Young Authors’ Conclave, and the Young Scientists’ Forum. He also noted that India had proposed the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum last year, and confirmed that its inaugural session would be held in India in the current year.

The SCO currently comprises 10 member states — Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — along with two observer states and 15 dialogue partners. As India’s diplomatic footprint within the bloc deepens, Modi’s Bishkek address signals that New Delhi intends to use the SCO platform to press its counterterrorism agenda with renewed urgency.