PM Modi at SCO: ‘Terror Cannot Be a Strategic Asset’, Warns Against Double Standards

 

 

 

Bishkek: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a firm message against terrorism at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, calling for an uncompromising and united global response and declaring that there can be “no place for double standards” in dealing with terror.

Addressing SCO leaders, Modi called for dismantling the entire ecosystem that sustains terrorism, including its financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.

“We must speak in one voice that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue,” Modi said, underlining that terrorism is a grave challenge to humanity and cannot be addressed through a selective “action-reaction” approach.

‘Terrorism Cannot Be a Strategic Asset’

In a pointed message widely seen as directed at countries that use or support terrorism as an instrument of state policy, Modi said nations that provide shelter and support to terrorists must be given a clear message.

PM @narendramodi participated in the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek.

In his address, PM reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward to resolve conflicts. He stressed the need for zero tolerance towards terrorism and also emphasized that there… pic.twitter.com/K8QCQ7Yo7M

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 1, 2026

“Terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone,” he said.

The remarks assumed particular significance as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among the SCO leaders attending the summit. Indian and international reports described Modi’s intervention as a sharp warning against the use of terrorism for strategic or political objectives.

Modi also stressed the importance of eliminating terror financing and strengthening mechanisms for coordinated action against terrorism, radicalisation and transnational crime.

Security, Connectivity and Economic Opportunity

Beyond terrorism, Modi’s address focused on three broad priorities for India at the SCO—security, connectivity and opportunity.

India has consistently argued that regional connectivity should promote development while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. New Delhi has also pushed for stronger cooperation against organised crime, narcotics trafficking, cyber threats and other forms of transnational crime.

Modi projected the SCO as an important platform for building a secure and prosperous Eurasian region, with cooperation translating into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.

SCO Marks 25 Years

The 26th SCO Summit is being held in Bishkek on August 31 and September 1, marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The SCO currently has 10 full members, including India, China and Russia. India became a full member of the grouping in 2017. The summit’s theme is “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”

For India, the summit is also an opportunity to deepen engagement with Central Asia and other SCO members while advancing cooperation in security, trade, connectivity, energy and people-to-people ties.

Modi, Xi Share a Warm Moment

The summit also produced notable diplomatic visuals as Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping shook hands and interacted while walking together with other leaders following the group photograph.

Modi has also held bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit, including a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the two leaders reviewed cooperation spanning trade, energy, defence, space and other sectors.

The Bishkek summit thus combines India’s strong counter-terrorism message with a broader diplomatic push for regional security, connectivity and economic cooperation.

Modi’s central message was clear: terrorism cannot be selectively condemned, and no country should be allowed to treat terror as a strategic instrument.