SCO Summit: PM Modi calls for shunning double standards in combating terrorism

The Pahalgam terror attack was not only an assault on India's conscience, but was also an open challenge to every nation that believes in humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, strongly pitching for shunning "double standards" in combating terrorism.

In the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and many other global leaders, Modi, addressing the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), said fighting terrorism is the "duty towards humanity".

In a clear message to Pakistan and those supporting it, Modi asked: "It is natural to ask -- can the open support for terrorism by certain countries ever be acceptable to us?" "We must state it clearly and in one voice: double standards on terrorism are unacceptable. Together, we must oppose terrorism in every form and manifestation. This is our responsibility towards humanity," he said.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan.

The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10.

In his remarks, the prime minister said India has been bearing the grave scars of ruthless terrorism for the last several decades.

"Countless mothers have lost their children, and innumerable children have been left orphaned. Recently, we witnessed the most heinous face of terrorism in Pahalgam," he said.

"This attack was not only an assault on the conscience of India, but also an open challenge to every nation, and every individual who believes in humanity," he said.

Modi expressed his "deep gratitude" to all the friendly nations that stood by India during this moment of grief.

The prime minister, elaborating on India's vision and policy towards the grouping, floated an acronym for SCO. "S for Security, C for Connectivity and O for Opportunity," he explained.

"I would like to emphasise that security, peace, and stability form the foundation of any nation’s development. However, terrorism, separatism, and extremism remain major challenges along this path," he said.

Modi said terrorism is not only a threat to the security of individual nations, but a shared challenge to all of humanity.

"No country, no society, no citizen can consider themselves completely safe from it. That is why India has consistently stressed the importance of unity in the fight against terrorism," he said.

The prime minister also underlined the importance of connectivity for regional growth and development.

"We believe that every effort towards connectivity must uphold the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is also enshrined in the core principles of the SCO Charter," he said.

"Connectivity, that by-passes sovereignty, ultimately loses both trust and meaning," he added.

The comments are seen as an indirect reference to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has been opposing it as a part of the project goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The prime minister also proposed the creation of a Civilisational Dialogue Forum under the SCO.

"Such a platform will allow us to share the richness of our ancient civilisations, art, literature, and traditions on a global stage," he said.

The prime minister also emphasised ensuring the development of the Global South.

Keeping aspirations of the Global South confined in outdated frameworks is a grave injustice to future generations, he said.

Highlighting India's development journey, Modi said it is moving ahead with the mantra of "reform, perform and transform".

Be it Covid or global economic instability, we have tried to convert every challenge into an opportunity, he said.