Bishkek, September 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday delivered a strong message against terrorism at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, calling on member states to dismantle the entire ecosystem that sustains terrorism and reject any double standards in dealing with the threat.
Addressing the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, Modi said terrorism remained a serious challenge to humanity and required action beyond individual incidents or an “action and reaction” approach.
“We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens,” the Prime Minister said.
He called for a united international response against countries that use terrorism as a policy instrument or provide shelter and support to terrorists.
“Those countries which make terrorism a tool of their policy, provide shelter and support to terrorists, will have to be given a strong message that terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also reiterated India’s position that wars and conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than on the battlefield. Referring to the West Asia crisis, he said conflicts in one region could have consequences worldwide, affecting energy security, maritime trade and supply chains, with countries of the Global South bearing a significant share of the impact.
Modi also highlighted drug trafficking as a serious threat to young people and regional security. He welcomed SCO initiatives addressing security threats, organised crime, information security and narcotics, calling for these mechanisms to become effective platforms for practical coordination and timely action.
On connectivity, Modi said India supported efforts to link markets, facilitate trade and create new development opportunities, while stressing that such initiatives must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
He said future connectivity would need to go beyond roads, railways and air corridors to include simpler customs procedures, digital documentation and more efficient logistics networks.
Outlining India’s approach to the SCO, Modi identified three pillars—Security, Connectivity and Opportunity—and called for greater people-driven cooperation. He highlighted the SCO Start-up Forum, Young Authors’ Conclave and Young Scientists’ Forum as Indian initiatives supporting youth engagement.
He also said the first session of the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum, proposed by India last year, would be held in India this year.
The SCO has 10 member states: Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia are listed in the source as observer states, while its dialogue partners include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Sri Lanka.
FOLLOW NOW
