SCO leaders adopt Tianjin Declaration which ‘strongly’ condemns Pahalgam attack

The 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Monday (September 1, 2025) ‘strongly condemned’ terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

The Tianjin Declaration, signed and adopted by all members including India, Pakistan, and Russia, also condemned terrorist attacks on Jaffer Express and Khuzdar in Pakistan. It also called for an end to “cross-border movement” of terrorists. The declaration reaffirmed the bloc’s “firm commitment to fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism”, and stressed the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist, and extremist groups for “mercenary purposes”.

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The declaration that came at the summit which focused on strengthening the Global South amid global uncertainties in trade and a “fluid and chaotic global situation”, opened by stating that the world is undergoing “profound historical changes that affect all sphered of political, socio-economic, and social relations”.

The member states also opposed “unilateral coercive measures, including those of an economic nature”, that contravene UN charter and principles of the World Trade Organisation, in a possible reference to the U.S. tariffs. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who chaired the meeting of the heads of the member states, in his opening remarks criticised the “bullying behaviour” in the world order and called on leaders to “adhere to fairness and justice” while opposing “cold war mentality”.

Taking note of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian situation engulfing the Gaza Strip, all the member states expressed “deep concern” and strongly condemned “actions that have led to numerous casualties among the civilian population” in the enclave. A “comprehensive and just settlement” of the Palestinian issue is the only way to ensure peace in West Asia, the declaration said.

India also joined the fellow members of the grouping to strongly condemn the military strikes by Israel and the U.S. against Iran, a member state, in June that targeted Tehran’s nuclear facilities. The member states reaffirmed the importance of the UN Security Council resolution 2231 which included provisions for lifting sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme.

The declaration also took note of the political situation in Afghanistan, which holds an observer status in the grouping but did not attend the summit. The members reiterated that the formation of an “inclusive government with broad participation of representatives of all ethno-political groups” of the society is the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

All the member states except India also reaffirmed their support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Mr. Xi, in his opening remarks, also pledged to provide two billion yuan in grant to member countries within this year, and an additional 10 billion yuan in loan to member banks of the SCO Interbank Consortium over the next three years. He also said that the group should set uo an “SCO development bank” as soon as possible.

The declaration also welcomed a resolution by the annual United Nations General Assembly that called for “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to escalating contemporary forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance” .

(With inputs from Suhasini Haider)

The writer is in China at an invitation from the China Public Diplomacy Association.