Ten weeks have made a decisive difference in regional diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to China saw the September 1 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint declaration explicitly condemn the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. The statement carries added weight given that Pakistan, a full SCO member, is also a signatory.
This marks a sharp contrast with the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Qingdao on June 26, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had refused to endorse the joint declaration since it omitted any reference to the Pahalgam massacre, while highlighting incidents in Pakistan.
In Tianjin, however, the final declaration reflected India’s concerns. While Pakistan was not directly named, the text condemned terrorism in all its forms, stressed that “double standards” were unacceptable, and called for accountability of perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors. It added: “The Member States strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the dead and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice.”
Modi’s Stand Against Double Standards
In his address at the summit, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the dangers of selective approaches to terrorism, without directly naming Pakistan. “In the fight against terrorism, India stands firm on unity, and the SCO has an important role,” he said, making clear that double standards could not be tolerated.
India had earlier responded to the Pahalgam massacre with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror bases across the border. Ahead of the SCO Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs had emphasised that India expected a strong, unequivocal condemnation of the attack—a demand now met in the Tianjin declaration.
Diplomatic Gains Amid US Trade Tensions
Beyond the SCO outcome, Modi’s bilateral engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored India’s growing strategic weight at a time of heightened economic strain with Washington.
The United States has imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods, with President Donald Trump linking half of this penalty to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil—a claim India has strongly rejected. On Monday, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri clarified that Indian imports of Russian crude have “stabilised global markets while preventing price escalation,” rather than being exploitative.
Reports also suggest Trump’s frustration stems from India’s refusal to endorse his claim that he “stopped a war between India and Pakistan” after the Pahalgam attack by using trade pressure as leverage. New Delhi has reiterated its sovereign position, stressing that its foreign policy decisions are independent and not subject to third-party mediation.
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