Bishkek Declaration – Key Highlights and India’s Message on Terrorism

Bishkek Declaration Latest News

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has adopted the Bishkek Declaration at its 26th summit.

About the SCO

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic and security grouping. It has ten member states: 
  • Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
• India became a full member in 2017. The organisation marked 25 years at the Bishkek summit, making it one of the largest regional groupings by population and geographical spread.
• The SCO’s core focus has traditionally been on combating what it calls the “three evils”, terrorism, separatism and extremism, alongside cooperation in trade, connectivity and cultural exchange.

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News Summary

• The 2026 Bishkek SCO summit was the 26th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, held from 31 August to 1 September in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
• The Bishkek Declaration was signed by the leaders of all member states, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Terrorism

• The declaration strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and emphasised that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable.
• Member states called on the international community to combat terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, with the UN playing a central role. 
• This was to be achieved by fully implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, in accordance with the UN Charter and principles of international law.
• Reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, the members emphasised the inadmissibility of attempts to exploit terrorist, separatist and extremist groups for selfish purposes.

Cyber and Information Security

• The declaration noted the importance of countering the use of the internet for terrorist, separatist and extremist purposes.
• Member states agreed to strengthen coordination in the areas of international information security, information protection, and combating new types of crime.

West Asia

• The statement expressed deep concern over developments in West Asia and advocated a political and diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
• Reaffirming support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, member states advocated resolution of the conflict solely through political and diplomatic means, and welcomed all efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation.
• The declaration also condoled the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader.

Global Governance

• The SCO countries advocated reform and improvement of the system of global governance and regulation.
• They also stated adherence to a policy that excludes bloc-based and confrontational approaches to resolving issues of international and regional development, favouring peaceful resolution of disagreements between states.

India’s Message at the Summit

• Prime Minister Modi’s address focused on three themes: the spillover effects of conflict, terrorism, and connectivity.
• Conflict Has No Borders
  • PM Modi told the summit that the crisis in West Asia has shown that a conflict in one region does not remain confined there. He noted that it affects global energy security, maritime trade and supply chains.
  • He observed that the Global South bears the brunt of these consequences, and reiterated India’s consistent position that the resolution of all tensions and conflicts is possible only through dialogue and diplomacy, not on the battlefield.
  • The remarks came as the war in West Asia, which began in February 2026 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, entered its sixth month.
• On Terrorism
  • PM Modi described terrorism as a grave challenge for all of humanity and argued that the response cannot be limited to an “action-reaction” mindset.
  • He called for dismantling the entire ecosystem of terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens, and said member states must speak in one voice to declare that there is no room for double standards on the issue.
  • He added that countries which use terrorism as an instrument of state policy and provide shelter and support to terrorists must be sent a strong message that terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone.
• On Connectivity
  • Underlining the need for robust and reliable connectivity, PM Modi said India supports all initiatives that connect markets, facilitate trade and open new avenues for growth.
  • He stressed, however, that respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations is paramount in such endeavours, describing this as the core spirit of the SCO Charter.

India’s Vision: Security, Connectivity, Opportunity

• PM Modi recalled India’s three pillars for the SCO: S for Security, C for Connectivity, and O for Opportunity.
• Noting the grouping’s 25-year record, he said a solid foundation for cooperation had been laid and the goal for the next 25 years should be to translate cooperation into tangible results.
• India has launched several initiatives within the SCO framework, including a Start-up Forum, a Young Authors’ Conclave and a Young Scientists’ Forum. The first session of the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum, proposed by India last year, will be held in India this year.

Source: IE | TH