SCO must confront countries using terrorism as instrument of state policy: PM Modi - The Hindu

**SCO Must Confront Countries Using Terrorism as an Instrument of State Policy, Says PM Modi**

New Delhi – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the closing session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1, 2026, to issue a stark warning that the bloc must jointly address “states that weaponise terrorism as a tool of foreign policy.” Speaking after Pakistan assumed the SCO chairmanship for the first time, Modi stressed that the organization’s credibility hinges on its willingness to call out and counteract any member or observer that tolerates or sponsors violent extremism. He urged SCO leaders to adopt concrete mechanisms—ranging from intelligence sharing to coordinated diplomatic pressure—to ensure that terrorism does not become a “strategic asset” for any government.

Modi’s remarks were widely interpreted as a direct critique of Pakistan, which has long been accused by New Delhi of harbouring and supporting militant groups operating against Indian interests. While the summit’s final declaration refrained from singling out any country, the Indian delegation highlighted a “zero‑tolerance” stance on state‑sponsored terrorism, calling for the development of a unified legal framework to prosecute such acts. The Prime Minister also referenced recent cross‑border attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that allowing terrorism to thrive undermines the SCO’s broader goals of regional stability, economic integration, and collective security.

The address came amid heightened diplomatic activity, with Modi simultaneously seeking to revive a “peace pitch” to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, as reported by *The Quint*. Analysts note that India’s firm posture on terrorism may complicate its broader foreign‑policy balancing act, particularly as the SCO navigates divergent interests among its members—including China, Russia, and the newly chaired Pakistan. Observers say that the summit’s outcomes will test the bloc’s ability to move beyond rhetoric and implement actionable measures that reconcile security concerns with its economic and geopolitical agenda.