Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp message on terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday, September 1, making it clear that countries that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy cannot expect it to confer a strategic advantage. Notably, his remarks came in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Notably, Pakistan is recognised worldwide as the fountainhead of terrorism, with most of it directed towards India.
Addressing the SCO leaders, PM Modi said that countries which use terrorism as an instrument of their policies and provide shelter and support to terrorists must receive a strong message from the international community. He stressed that “terrorism cannot be a strategic asset” for anyone. India destroyed several of these terrorist havens during Operation Sindoor in 2025, but Pakistan, instead of agreeing to close terrorism factories within its borders, chose to attack India instead. Obviously, within a few hours, Pakistan was forced to beg for a ceasefire.
PM Modi also called for dismantling the entire ecosystem that sustains terrorism, including terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.
The timing and setting of Modi’s remarks were particularly significant. Pakistan, which has repeatedly faced international scrutiny over the presence and activities of terror groups operating from its territory, was represented at the summit by Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan is also set to assume the SCO chairmanship for the next year and host the organisation’s 2027 summit in Islamabad.
India has consistently maintained that terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a direct threat to regional peace and development. Ahead of the Bishkek summit, the Indian government said that countering terrorism would remain one of New Delhi’s key priorities at the SCO, alongside connectivity and economic opportunities.
PM Modi’s comments also reflected India’s demand for a unified global approach against terrorism. He warned against double standards in the fight against terror, arguing that the international community cannot condemn terrorism in one situation while remaining silent when it is used for geopolitical objectives elsewhere.
The message assumes greater importance at a time when the SCO is attempting to strengthen regional cooperation on security, counter-terrorism, drug trafficking and radicalisation. The organisation brings together India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and several Central Asian countries, making it an important platform for discussing security challenges across Eurasia.
The broader message from PM Modi from Bishkek was clear—Development, connectivity and economic cooperation cannot flourish in an environment where terrorism is tolerated or used as a tool of state policy.
