SCO must dismantle ecosystem of terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation, safe havens: PM

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit witnessed a defining moment in India's counter-terrorism diplomacy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stern message calling for the complete dismantling of the ecosystem that sustains terrorism — including terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. This statement, made even as Pakistan assumed the SCO chairmanship for 2026-2027, underscores India's unwavering position that terrorism cannot be justified or used as a "strategic asset" by any state. The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — with India and Pakistan joining as full members in 2017 — has evolved into a key platform for regional security cooperation, particularly in Central Asia. India's engagement with the SCO reflects its "Extended Neighbourhood" policy and its commitment to a rules-based order in Eurasia. The historical context is critical: since the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India has consistently highlighted cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, both designated by the UN. The 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent Balakot airstrikes further escalated tensions. At the SCO, India has repeatedly pushed for the implementation of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent, to enhance intelligence sharing and joint operations. PM Modi's emphasis on Afghanistan's stability is equally strategic — following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, India has advocated for an inclusive government, protection of minority rights, and prevention of Afghan soil being used for terrorism, in line with UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021). Constitutionally, India's foreign policy is guided by Article 51 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which mandates the promotion of international peace and security, respect for international law, and settlement of disputes by peaceful means. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, amended in 2019, empowers the state to designate individuals as terrorists and seize assets linked to terror financing — a domestic legal framework aligning with global standards like FATF recommendations. India's push at the SCO also resonates with its role in the UN Security Council (2021–2022) where it championed the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), pending since 1996. The significance for India is multidimensional: politically, it reinforces India's credentials as a responsible power and a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific and Eurasian regions; economically, a stable, terror-free neighbourhood is essential for connectivity projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port; socially, it addresses the threat of radicalisation among youth, particularly in border regions. With Pakistan chairing the SCO in 2026–2027, India will closely monitor whether the forum advances genuine counter-terrorism action or becomes a platform for political posturing. Future implications include deeper India-Central Asia security ties, potential expansion of RATS capabilities, and continued diplomatic pressure on states sponsoring terrorism — all vital for India's aspiration to shape a multipolar world order rooted in sovereignty, non-interference, and zero tolerance for terror.