PM Modi's Strong Comment On Terror At SCO, With Shehbaz Sharif In Attendance - ndtv.com

**New Delhi –** Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the forum’s biennial summit, a meeting that brought together the heads of China, Russia, India, Pakistan and the host nation. The gathering featured a high‑profile group photograph with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, underscoring the bloc’s emphasis on regional cooperation despite lingering geopolitical tensions. The summit’s agenda covered a wide spectrum of issues—from economic connectivity and counter‑terrorism to the war in Ukraine—reflecting the SCO’s expanding role as a platform for Eurasian dialogue.

In a pointed address to the assembly, Prime Minister Modi warned against “double standards on terrorism,” insisting that all member states must confront extremist threats uniformly. Speaking in the presence of Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif, Modi emphasized that India’s stance was not directed at any single country but at the broader challenge of cross‑border terror that has plagued South Asia for decades. The remark was met with a measured response from the Pakistani delegation, which reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to joint counter‑terrorism initiatives while urging the SCO to maintain a balanced approach that does not single out any nation.

Beyond the terrorism debate, Modi used the summit’s global spotlight to appeal directly to President Putin, urging Russia to shift from an “endless war” in Ukraine to an “end of war.” The Indian prime minister framed the plea as a matter of international stability, citing the humanitarian toll of the conflict and its ripple effects on global energy markets and trade routes that are vital to SCO economies. Observers noted that Modi’s outreach, delivered alongside handshakes with both Xi and Putin, signaled New Delhi’s intent to act as a diplomatic bridge in a forum where major powers often clash over divergent interests. While Russia’s delegation did not issue an immediate response, the exchange highlighted India’s growing ambition to shape multilateral discourse on security and peace in the region.

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