SCO Should Not Compromise on Terrorism: Jaishankar’s Firm Message in China

Beijing/Tianjin, July 15, 2025:
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a clear and uncompromising message to his counterparts at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) meeting in China: the group must stay true to its founding mission of fighting terrorism, separatism, and extremism without compromise.

He cited the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir as an example of the dangers posed by terrorism in the region.

“It was carried out to sow religious divide and hurt the economy of Jammu and Kashmir,” he told the gathered foreign ministers.

Jaishankar’s statement was a direct appeal to SCO members — including Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who was present at the meeting — to recognise terrorism as a shared threat requiring collective action.

Context of the Pahalgam Attack

On April 22, 2025, terrorists ambushed a convoy of tourist vehicles near Pahalgam, one of Kashmir’s most popular destinations.

• Multiple civilians, including local drivers and tourists, were killed or injured.

• Security agencies have described it as an attempt to undermine tourism — a major source of livelihood in the Union Territory — and provoke communal tensions by targeting a location visited by people of all faiths.

Jaishankar said this attack was deliberate, aimed at sabotaging economic recovery in the region and dividing communities.

The SCO’s Original Purpose

Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was explicitly tasked with combating:

• Terrorism

• Separatism

• Extremism

India joined in 2017, repeatedly insisting that the SCO remain committed to these goals in letter and spirit.

“This is what binds us. This is why the SCO exists,” Jaishankar reminded his colleagues.

His remarks were especially pointed given that Pakistan is a full member, and India has long accused Pakistan-based groups of cross-border terrorism.

Jaishankar’s Diplomacy at the Meeting

Before the formal meeting in Tianjin, the ministers travelled together by train from Beijing, where they had an audience with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Key bilateral engagements on the sidelines included:

• Talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

• Discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whom he had also met at the BRICS summit in Brazil earlier this month.

India’s ties with both Russia and Iran are crucial:

• Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier and an important partner in balancing regional security.

• Iran is vital for connectivity projects like Chabahar Port and is a gateway to Central Asia.

These meetings helped India build consensus around its anti-terror message within the SCO.

A Call for Collective Responsibility

Jaishankar urged SCO members to go beyond statements and support concrete actions:

• Sharing intelligence.

• Extraditing wanted terrorists.

• Cracking down on terror financing.

• Stopping safe havens for terrorist groups.

He specifically called on members to “support India’s efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Pakistan’s Presence and India’s Messaging

The presence of Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar added weight to Jaishankar’s warning.

• India and Pakistan have a long-standing dispute over terrorism.

• New Delhi accuses Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorist infrastructure.

• Pakistan denies these allegations but has repeatedly blocked regional anti-terror cooperation efforts from being effective.

By speaking openly about the Pahalgam attack, Jaishankar put terrorism squarely on the SCO’s agenda, challenging any attempts to sideline the issue.

SCO’s Relevance in a Changing World

The SCO today includes not just founding members like China and Russia, but also India, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian states.

• Its geographic sweep makes it a critical forum for Eurasian security.

• But it also faces internal tensions, including India-China border issues and India-Pakistan rivalry.

Despite these challenges, India has argued that SCO cannot afford to become a talking shop that issues communiqués while ignoring real threats like terrorism.

Jaishankar’s speech was seen as an effort to restore credibility to the group’s core mission.

Broader Diplomatic Context

Jaishankar’s China visit also comes amid:

• Recent India-China military disengagement efforts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

• BRICS Summit in Brazil, where India, China, Russia, and others pledged to reform the global governance system.

• Growing India-Russia coordination even as Moscow deepens ties with Beijing.

Despite differences with China, India sees value in engaging multilaterally — especially on counter-terrorism, trade, and regional stability.

India’s Stance on Terrorism at International Forums

India has consistently used every platform — UN, G20, BRICS, SCO — to make counter-terrorism a priority:

• Arguing that no justification — whether political, religious, or ideological — can excuse terrorism.

• Calling out states that sponsor or shelter terrorists.

• Demanding a comprehensive international convention against terrorism.

Jaishankar’s intervention in Tianjin is part of that broader diplomatic strategy.

Conclusion: A Firm, Principled Stand

By reminding the SCO of its founding principles and highlighting the recent Pahalgam attack, Jaishankar made a clear point:

• Terrorism threatens all SCO members.

• Turning a blind eye or making excuses only emboldens terrorists.

• There can be no compromise.

As India continues its push for regional and global counter-terror cooperation, Jaishankar’s message in China is expected to resonate — and provoke debate — within the SCO and beyond.

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