Samarkhand, September, 1: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and voiced support for India’s stance that “double standards” in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable. The declaration came at the conclusion of the SCO’s two-day annual summit in the Chinese port city, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders.
The SCO member states expressed a strong commitment to combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, noting that terrorist, separatist, and extremist groups must not be used for “mercenary purposes.” The declaration highlighted the leading role of sovereign states and their competent authorities in countering such threats.
“The member states strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22,” the declaration said, also referencing attacks in Khuzdar and on the Jaffer Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. “They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the dead and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice.”
The SCO also called on the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border movement of terrorists. “Member states strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stress that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable,” the declaration added.
In addition to counterterrorism, the SCO condemned military strikes by Israel in Gaza, citing “numerous casualties among the civilian population and a catastrophic humanitarian situation” in the Strip.
The summit concluded with a focus on enhancing regional security and strengthening cooperation among member states. The SCO reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations in implementing relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in accordance with international law.
