The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Moscow has once again placed the global fight against terrorism at the forefront of international discourse. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar’s categorical assertion that the world must display “zero tolerance” toward terrorism-without justification, without selective blindness, and without whitewashing-captures a truth that the international community can no longer afford to ignore. Although the SCO was founded to counter the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the response of member states over the years has often lacked the collective will necessary for meaningful action. India, having faced the gravest consequences of terrorism for more than four decades, continues to urge the grouping to confront this menace with honesty, consistency, and unity. No SCO member is untouched by terrorism. From Central Asia to China, extremist networks and cross-border structures have undermined security, stability, and economic progress. Yet, the political will to act in unison remains diluted by geopolitical calculations. Terrorism, however, cannot be compartmentalised. It does not discriminate between regions, religions, or regimes. It is the most heinous crime against humanity, and geopolitical convenience cannot be its shield.
India’s perspective on terrorism is shaped by lived experience. Since the late 1980s, India has endured an unending chain of terror attacks-targeting legislatures, security installations, diplomatic missions, religious sites, and civilians. From the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Parliament attacks in 2001 to Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri, Pulwama, Pahalgam and numerous strikes in Jammu and Kashmir, the list is painfully long. While Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist involved in the Mumbai attack, was brought to justice, the masterminds behind nearly every major attack continue to roam free, shielded by Pakistan’s deep state. Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism is no longer a matter of allegation but open admission. Its own Science and Technology Minister, Fawad Chaudhary, acknowledged Islamabad’s role in the Pulwama attack on the floor of the National Assembly. Despite dossiers, diplomatic outreach, and global pressure, Pakistan has persisted in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. With a military establishment, political apparatus, and intelligence networks deeply intertwined with terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, and others, Pakistan has consistently undermined regional peace.
However, the India of today is not the India of the 1990s or early 2000s. With each terror incident, New Delhi has raised the cost of Pakistan’s adventurism. Surgical strikes, the Balakot airstrike, and now the full-fledged Operation Sindoor have demonstrated a decisive shift in India’s counter-terror posture. India has made it abundantly clear-terrorism will be met with firm, proportional, and sovereign responses. EAM Jaishankar’s declaration at the SCO that India has the right to defend its people and will exercise it has reaffirmed this national resolve. But India’s message is not merely about defending its own borders. It is a call for global partnership rooted in shared security. Terrorism erodes economies, destabilises societies, and disrupts development. SCO nations, many of which seek accelerated economic growth, cannot afford the drain caused by extremism and cross-border violence. Peace and prosperity are inseparable; one cannot exist without the other.
Yet, divisions persist. China’s selective approach to terrorism-particularly its diplomatic shield to Pakistan-based groups at the UN-remains a stumbling block. While Beijing joined the consensus at Tianjin and Moscow to condemn terrorism “in all forms”, meaningful progress demands consistency, not episodic alignment. SCO cannot fulfil its potential as a counterweight to Western strategic dominance if internal contradictions weaken its moral authority and strategic coherence. For SCO to truly transform into a platform of trust and cooperation, its member states must walk the talk. This requires abandoning geopolitical hedging, acknowledging hard truths, and ensuring accountability. A united SCO stance will not only enhance regional security but also unlock immense economic and cultural potential-through trade diversification, infrastructure cooperation, people-to-people ties, and innovation networks.
The world does not need another wake-up call; the alarms have been sounding for decades. The time for collective resolve is now. Only then can the SCO-and the world-hope to secure a future grounded in peace, stability, and mutual prosperity.
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