Bishkek, Sep 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to adopt a united approach against terrorism and dismantle the entire ecosystem that sustains it, including financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.
Addressing the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi stressed that there should be no ambiguity or double standards in the global fight against terrorism. “We must speak with one voice that there can be no place for double standards on terrorism,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India’s approach to the SCO rests on three key pillars — Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. Describing the organisation as a meeting point of diverse civilisations, cultures and ideas, he said India views the SCO as an important platform for strengthening regional cooperation and addressing common challenges.
Reiterating India’s long-standing position on armed conflicts, Modi said disputes must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than military confrontation. “There is no solution on the battlefield; all wars and conflicts must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.
On connectivity, Modi welcomed efforts aimed at linking markets, promoting trade and creating new avenues for economic development. At the same time, he underlined that connectivity initiatives must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
The Prime Minister also called for greater emphasis on people-to-people contacts, urging SCO members to place such exchanges at the heart of their cooperation over the next 25 years. He highlighted several initiatives launched by India under the SCO framework, including the Start-up Forum, Young Authors' Conclave and Young Scientists' Forum.
Referring to another Indian initiative, Modi said India had proposed the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum last year. He welcomed the decision to hold its first session in India this year, describing it as an opportunity to further strengthen civilisational and cultural exchanges among member states.
Earlier in the day, Modi joined other SCO leaders for a group photograph at the summit venue in Bishkek before participating in the key deliberations.
The SCO currently comprises 10 member states — Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia are listed as observer states, while the organisation has 15 dialogue partners, including Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Sri Lanka.
Modi’s address underlined India’s push for stronger regional cooperation while placing terrorism, connectivity, dialogue and people-to-people relations at the centre of its engagement with the SCO.
