Image Source: Agencies

Sept 1, 2025: The Pahalgam terror attack was strongly condemned on Monday by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which agreed with India's position that "double standards" in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable.

The influential grouping listed its strong resolve to combat terrorism in a declaration that was unveiled at the end of its two-day annual summit at the Chinese port city that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and many other global leaders.
The SCO member states also condemned the military strikes by Israel in Gaza as it has led to numerous casualties among the civilian population and a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Strip.

The declaration identified the fight against terrorism as a major obstacle and offered suggestions for improving regional security. It stated, "The member states strongly condemned the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam." The terrorist attacks on the Jaffer Express and Khuzdar, both in Pakistan's Balochistan province, were also condemned by the SCO member states. "They (member states) expressed their sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and injured." According to the declaration, they added, "The perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice." It stated that the SCO stresses the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist, and extremist groups for "mercenary purposes" while reiterating its firm commitment to the fight against terrorism, extremism, and separatism. The SCO said it recognised the leading role of sovereign states and their competent authorities in countering terrorist and extremist threats.
"The member states strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stress that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and call on the international community to combat terrorism, including cross-border movement of terrorists," it said.
According to the SCO, the United Nations has the primary responsibility for fully implementing the relevant resolution of the UN Security Council and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in accordance with the UN Charter and international law in order to jointly combat all terrorist organizations.