Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to move beyond declarations and convert India's three-pillar vision — Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity — into concrete, measurable results. Addressing the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi framed the organisation's 25th anniversary as a defining moment to chart the bloc's course for the next quarter-century.

Security: Zero Tolerance on Terrorism

Modi placed counter-terrorism at the centre of his address, arguing that the fight against extremism demands a systemic overhaul — not merely reactive measures. 'Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity as a whole. In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach. We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens,' he said.

He pressed SCO members to speak in a unified voice and reject double standards, warning that 'terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone.' The remarks carried an unmistakable subtext in a bloc that includes states accused by India of harbouring cross-border militant networks.

Modi also flagged the widening definition of security in an interconnected world, pointing to the West Asia crisis as evidence that regional conflicts cascade globally — disrupting energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains. He underscored that nations of the Global South absorb the sharpest shocks from such instability, and reiterated India's consistent position that all conflicts must be resolved 'not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy.'

Afghanistan: A Shared Responsibility

Stability in Afghanistan was identified as a precondition for broader Eurasian security. Modi reaffirmed that India has been contributing to development and humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people and would continue to do so. The statement signals New Delhi's intent to maintain engagement with Afghanistan even as the political situation there remains complex.

Connectivity on India's Terms

On the second pillar, Modi backed connectivity initiatives that link markets, expand trade, and generate development opportunities — but attached a non-negotiable condition: such projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. The caveat is widely read as India's standing objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

He urged the bloc to transform 'shared geography into shared opportunities,' arguing that at a time of global uncertainty, geographic proximity should be leveraged for collective economic gain rather than strategic rivalry.

People-Driven Opportunity: Start-Ups, Youth and Civilisational Dialogue

Modi pushed for SCO cooperation to evolve from government-to-government frameworks toward people-driven partnerships, highlighting technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, and start-ups as engines of opportunity across member economies.

He cited several Indian-led initiatives — the SCO Start-up Forum, the Young Authors' Conclave, and the Young Scientists' Forum — as examples of youth-centred engagement. He also welcomed the inaugural session of the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum, proposed by India the previous year, which is set to be held in India this year.

'Our cooperation in the SCO should not be merely government-driven; it should also be people-driven,' Modi told the assembled leaders, closing with India's commitment to the SCO's collective journey: 'From shared geography to shared opportunities, from vision to outcomes — India is ready to contribute.'

With the SCO now entering its second quarter-century, Modi's address sets out a clear Indian agenda: a tougher multilateral line on terrorism, connectivity that does not compromise sovereignty, and a people-first model of regional integration that goes beyond diplomatic communiqués.