New Delhi: The Tianjin Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) “strongly condemned” the terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, as well as at Khuzdar and Jaffer Express in Pakistan.
The declaration has been signed and adopted by the leaders of the 10-member organisation, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, as seen with previous declarations, India opted out of specific provisions of the declaration relating to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
“The Member States strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stress that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and call on the international community to combat terrorism, including cross-border movement of terrorists, with the central role of the United Nations, by fully implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolution and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in accordance with the UN Charter and the principles of international law, in order to jointly combat all terrorist organisations,” the Tianjin Declaration said Monday.
“Member States strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. Member States also strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on Jaffer Express on 11 March and in Khuzdar on 21 May 2025. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the dead and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice.”
In June, the SCO defence ministers’ meeting was unable to arrive at a consensus amongst member-states over the language regarding terrorism, with particular focus on condemning the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, as reported by ThePrint.
However, all 10-member countries have signed up to the leaders’ declaration, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The SCO is one of the few multilateral groupings with both India and Pakistan as members. The other member-states are Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
For India, the SCO statement is significant as it calls for bringing the perpetrators of terrorist attacks to justice, while also acknowledging the “cross-border movement of terrorists.”—a long-standing position of New Delhi. India has maintained that the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 26 people, was carried out by terrorists from across the border.
In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting 10 terrorist complexes across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan, including Bahawalpur and Muridke. New Delhi and Islamabad were engaged in an 87-hour conflict that ended following the two militaries reaching a bilateral understanding to pause the hostilities.
Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of terrorism during his address at the SCO meeting calling for “no double standards” in the fight against terrorism. On Sunday, during the bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, Modi called both countries victims of terrorist attacks.
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Oppose unilateral coercive measures
The SCO leaders also opposed any “unilateral coercive measures, including those of an economic nature” in possible references to both the sanctions on Russia as well as the tariffs imposed by the US in recent months.
“Member States oppose unilateral coercive measures, including those of an economic nature, that contravene the UN Charter and other norms of international law, the rules and principles of the World Trade Organisation, damaging the interests of international security, including its food and energy components, negatively affecting the global economy, undermining fair competition, hindering international cooperation and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” the Declaration said.
It does not clarify what are coercive measures of an “economic nature.” However, in recent months a number of SCO member-states have faced large tariffs imposed by America for a variety of reasons. Since 2018, China and the US have been in the midst of a trade war, with President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on specific Chinese exports, which have since been maintained.
However, since April, Trump has increased tariffs on several countries. On 27 August, the 50 percent tariffs imposed on India came into effect, which is one of the highest amongst all American trading partners.
Furthermore, Russia, since the start of the war with Ukraine, has faced the brunt of Western-led sanctions, which has seen it lose access to the international financing system, while also facing a cap in the price of its crude oil sales.
The US and the European Union (EU) imposed the sanctions as a means to harm Russia’s war economy. The Tianjin Declaration makes no mention of Ukraine.
On Iran & Gaza
The SCO member-states also strongly condemned the strikes against Iran by Israel and the US in June 2025. It should be noted that India had distanced itself from the SCO statement at the time condemning the strikes, and pointing to its own individual statement on the situation. India maintains ties with both Iran and Israel.
“Member States strongly condemned the military strikes by Israel and the USA against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025. Such aggressive actions against civilian targets, including nuclear energy infrastructure, which resulted in the death of civilians, are a gross violation of the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter, and an infringement on the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They undermine regional and international security and have serious implications for global peace and stability,” said the Declaration.
The Israel and US strikes on Iran targeted its nuclear facilities including at Fordow, while also leading to the killing of a number of Iranian senior officials. The US used its B-2 stealth bombers to strike at Fordow, which is located deep underground.
The SCO also reiterated its “deep concern” over the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and “strongly condemn” the actions that have led to a “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in the Gaza Strip.
On Gaza, India has maintained its support for a two-state solution while calling for the return of hostages and a ceasefire. The SCO declaration makes no mention of the return of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas–which indicates a slight shift in New Delhi’s position on the matter.
“They stress the need to ensure an immediate, complete and sustainable ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid, and intensified efforts to achieve peace, stability and security for all residents of the region. Member States note that the only possible way to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East is through a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian question,” the Declaration said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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It could be construed as some partial victory for India at SCO with Pakistan managing to include its Jhaffar Express incident also.