SCO condemns Pahalgam terror attack for first time, marking major diplomatic victory for India
PTC Web Desk: In a significant diplomatic breakthrough for India, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states have, for the first time, jointly condemned the Pahalgam Terror Attack in their declaration on Monday.
The statement read: “The Member States strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April.” The declaration expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families and the injured, while stressing that those responsible—whether perpetrators, organisers, or sponsors—must be brought to justice.
Reaffirming their united stand against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, SCO members emphasised that double standards in counterterrorism are unacceptable. They also urged the international community to act against terrorism, including curbing cross-border movement of terrorists. The declaration further underlined the importance of sovereign states and their institutions in leading counterterrorism efforts.
This development comes just two months after India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the SCO Defence Ministers’ joint statement at a meeting in Qingdao, China. The earlier statement mentioned the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan in March but deliberately excluded any reference to the Pahalgam terror attack.
India’s bold decision to withhold its signature was widely seen as a strong message to both China and Pakistan. At that time, Beijing, serving as SCO chair and closely aligned with Islamabad, had supported the omission.
By standing firm, India underscored its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and reaffirmed that peace and terrorism cannot coexist. This refusal highlighted India’s strategic autonomy and its determination not to dilute its position, even at a prominent multilateral forum like the SCO.
At the Tianjin summit, all SCO member states finally included the condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, aligning with India’s stance. The collective statement is being hailed as a major diplomatic win for New Delhi, demonstrating its influence within the bloc and sending a strong message to Pakistan.
- With inputs from agencies
