SCO must confront countries using terrorism as instrument of state policy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to confront countries using terrorism as an instrument of state policy and reject "double standards" in the collective fight against terror financing and recruitment, remarks widely viewed as a direct swipe at Pakistan.

In presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and many other global leaders, Modi told the annual SCO summit that the grouping should work unitedly to "dismantle the entire ecosystem" of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens.

Modi, expressing concerns over the West Asia crisis, said India has consistently called for all tensions and conflicts to be resolved not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy.

The prime minister, in an apparent reference to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries as it is the fundamental spirit of the SCO Charter.

India has been critical of BRI as part of it passes through Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.

However, the central theme of the prime minister's address appeared to be his call to the SCO to work unitedly to combat terrorism. His remarks were largely seen as directed at Pakistan's support to various terror groups.

"Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity as a whole. In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach," Modi said.

"We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. We must speak with one voice and make it clear that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue," he said.

"We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone," Modi added.

The prime minister, delving into the situation in West Asia, said it demonstrated that a conflict in one region does not remain confined to that region only as its impact is felt across the world.

"In today’s interconnected world, the scope of security has become even broader. The crisis in West Asia has demonstrated that a conflict in one region does not remain confined to that region.

"Its impact is felt across the world, affecting energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains. The countries of the Global South bear the greatest brunt of such disruptions," Modi said.

"Therefore, India has consistently called for all tensions and conflicts to be resolved not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy," he added.

The prime minister also touched upon the importance of peace and stability for a peaceful Eurasia.

"Our shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan. India has been contributing to the development and provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and will continue to do so," he said.

Modi also underlined the importance of improving connectivity and said India supports all efforts that connect markets, facilitate trade, and open up new avenues for development.

"However, it is equally essential that such efforts respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. This is also the fundamental spirit of the SCO Charter.

"Going forward, the scope of connectivity will become even broader. Along with roads, railways, and air corridors, we must simplify customs processes, promote digital documentation, and make logistics networks more efficient," he said.

Modi's address was based on three pillars -- security, connectivity, and opportunity -- that he had proposed for India's vision for the SCO at the last summit of the grouping.

The prime minister said the SCO cooperation should reach people directly.

"Our greatest strength is the connections between our people. For India, the SCO is a confluence of great civilisations, cultures, and ideas. Over the next twenty-five years of the SCO, people-to-people ties should remain at the heart of our cooperation," he said.

"The true measure of our success should be how many new opportunities our efforts create for young people, how many new markets open up for our entrepreneurs, how much our farmers benefit from technology, and how much better the lives of our citizens become," he said.