'Perpetrators must be brought to justice': SCO declaration condemns Pahalgam terror attack in Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's presence

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday strongly denounced the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, calling for accountability not only of those who carried out the massacre but also those who organised and sponsored it.

In the Tianjin Declaration adopted at the Council of Heads of State summit, the grouping noted:

"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."


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Modi invokes Pahalgam massacre at SCO

The condemnation came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the SCO platform to remind the world of India’s long battle against terrorism.

Without naming Pakistan, Modi told fellow leaders that the massacre at Pahalgam was not just an attack on India but a challenge to humanity itself.

“India has taken the lead in the fight against terror outfits like Al-Qaeda and its associates, and we oppose any kind of terror-financing. We have recently seen the brutal Pahalgam terror attack. I thank all the friendly nations who stood with us,” Modi said, addressing the summit plenary.

He stressed that “the Pahalgam strike was not only an attack on India, but an open challenge to countries, people believing in humanity.”

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A rare diplomatic moment with Pakistan

The Prime Minister’s remarks carried added weight as they were made in the presence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This SCO summit in Tianjin is the first occasion in which Modi and Sharif have shared a diplomatic stage since hostilities broke out between New Delhi and Islamabad earlier this year.

India has accused Pakistan of sponsoring the April 22 attack and presented what it called “incontrovertible evidence” of Islamabad’s role. In retaliation, the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, targeting militant infrastructure across the Line of Control.

Following the massacre, India has moved decisively to downgrade ties with Pakistan. Among the most significant steps was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark agreement that had survived multiple wars.

Modi, referring to India’s decades-long struggle, said: “India has been bearing the brunt of terrorism for the last four decades. Recently, we saw the worst side of terrorism in Pahalgam. I express my gratitude to the friendly country that stood with us in this hour of grief.”

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The SCO’s collective condemnation in the Tianjin Declaration is significant as it brings together nations with divergent interests, including Russia and China. The bloc’s wording appears to echo India’s long-standing position that state-backed terrorism must not go unpunished.

While the declaration did not name any country, the backdrop of Modi’s pointed remarks and India’s evidence against Pakistan has left little doubt about the diplomatic subtext.