The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), originally envisioned as a bulwark against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, faces a moment of reckoning. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, at the recent foreign ministers’ meet in Tianjin, reminded the forum of its founding purpose. In doing so, he placed India’s security concerns ~ especially after the recent Pahalgam attack ~ squarely at the centre of SCO’s collective conscience. His pointed message, delivered in the presence of Pakistan’s foreign minister, was both a diplomatic assertion and a regional call to action. The Pahalgam attack of April 2025, which claimed 26 lives, was more than just a terrorist strike. Its calculated timing and location targeted the Jammu and Kashmir tourism sector ~ an economic lifeline ~ and attempted to stoke religious tensions in a region long plagued by insurgency.
For India, the link between terrorism and its external sponsorship is clear, and the country has acted decisively with Operation Sindoor. But what is at stake now is whether multilateral platforms like the SCO are willing to move beyond platitudes and acknowledge the role that some members play ~ directly or indirectly ~ in perpetuating the very evils the organisation was formed to fight. The refusal to issue a joint statement at the recent SCO defence ministers’ meet ~ due to disagreement over language on terrorism ~ underscores how deep the divisions run. When consensus falters on condemning violence, the credibility of the forum is inevitably diminished. India’s stance, therefore, is not just about calling out hypocrisy. It is about safeguarding the credibility of multilateralism itself. When countries refuse to agree on basic language condemning terrorism, it raises fundamental questions about the purpose of regional groupings.
Mr Jaishankar’s insistence on sovereignty, mutual respect, and territorial integrity is not just aimed at one member ~ it reflects broader concerns, especially in light of past border tensions with China. That he raised these points while on Chinese soil speaks to New Delhi’s calibrated but firm diplomatic approach. At the same time, India’s outreach to Afghanistan and its commitment to development assistance signal that its foreign policy is not defined solely by conflict. It is also driven by a regional vision grounded in stability and inclusive growth. In promoting the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), India presents an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative ~ one that is more transparent, multilateral, and respectful of sovereignty. While India and Pakistan continue to engage under the SCO umbrella, the limits of this engagement are becoming clearer. Dialogue without accountability achieves little.
For the SCO to remain relevant, it must confront the contradictions within its own fold. A selective fight against terrorism cannot be the foundation of a regional order. Ultimately, India’s message in Tianjin was simple but forceful: regional security and cooperation cannot coexist with ambivalence toward terror. The SCO must choose whether it will be an effective forum for collective action ~ or a stage for polite evasion.