TIANJIN: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders have strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, on the Jaffar Express, and in Khuzdar. They pledged deeper cooperation to combat terrorism and extremism across member states.
In a joint statement after the Council of Heads of State meeting in Tianjin, the leaders emphasized that perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors of such attacks must be held accountable. They reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism, separatism, and extremism while underlining that sovereign states play the primary role in countering these threats.
The attacks have recently heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Following the Pahalgam attack, New Delhi accused Islamabad of involvement, which Pakistan denied. This led to a brief armed conflict in April, during which Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos after downing six Indian Air Force jets.
Earlier this year, India refused to sign a joint document at the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting, citing concerns over references to terrorism in Pakistan’s Balochistan and the omission of the Pahalgam incident. Pakistan later welcomed the U.S. designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant faction, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
The SCO declaration highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation to address terrorism and its financing. Leaders praised the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for facilitating joint exercises, information sharing, and monitoring. The statement also referenced joint anti-terror drills held in Xinjiang in 2024 and affirmed readiness to expand such initiatives.
To counter extremist ideology, SCO members adopted a 2026–2030 Program of Cooperation. It focuses on preventing radical ideologies, religious intolerance, xenophobia, and aggressive nationalism within the region.
The declaration also addressed global security, condemning military strikes by Israel and the United States against Iran. Leaders stressed that protecting civilians and nuclear facilities is critical for global stability.
The summit, hosted by China, also highlighted calls for a new global security and economic order. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized multilateralism and cooperation, criticizing Western hegemonism. Plans for a new SCO development bank and AI cooperation centre were announced to strengthen regional ties.
The SCO condemnation of Pahalgam and Jaffar Express attacks underscores the bloc’s unified stance against terrorism and its commitment to multilateral security measures.
