At the SCO summit in Bishkek, Modi calls for dismantling the terror ecosystem
India wants a firmer SCO line on cross-border terror, and Pakistan now chairs the grouping. What can India gain?
Published 2 September 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
The 26th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 31 August and 1 September 2026, under the theme "25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity". Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to the three pillars he had set out at the previous summit: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. On terrorism, he said members must "dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens", that there can be "no place for double standards", and that countries using terrorism as an instrument of policy must be told it "can never be a strategic asset for anyone".
On West Asia, Modi said the crisis showed that a conflict in one region affects energy security, maritime trade and supply chains everywhere, with the Global South bearing the greatest brunt, and repeated India's call to resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. On connectivity, he backed efforts that link markets but said they must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. The summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration with four memoranda of understanding and more than 20 decisions on areas including climate, nuclear safety, energy conservation and drugs. The Ministry of External Affairs said India's proposals on English as an official SCO language, a Civilisational Dialogue Forum, a Young Scientists' Forum and a Young Authors' Conclave found place in the outcomes. The Forum's first session will be held in India this year.
Two details show the limits of India's position. In the declaration, eight members (Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) reaffirmed support for China's Belt and Road Initiative; India, which objects to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was not among them. And Pakistan took over the rotating chair from Kyrgyzstan and will host the next summit in 2027. The case for engagement is that the SCO is India's main platform with Central Asia, Russia and China together. The difficulty is consensus: in June 2025 India declined to sign an SCO defence ministers' statement that left out the Pahalgam terror attack.
Prelims facts
- The 26th SCO summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 31 August and 1 September 2026, marking the SCO's 25th anniversary.
- Modi called for dismantling the ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens, with no double standards.
- The summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, four MoUs and more than 20 decisions; India says its proposals, including English as an official SCO language and a Civilisational Dialogue Forum, are in the outcomes.
- Eight members reaffirmed support for China's Belt and Road Initiative; India did not.
- Pakistan chairs the SCO for 2026-27 and will host the 2027 summit.
Quick recall
- Where and when was the 26th SCO summit held?
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 31 August and 1 September 2026.
- What was the theme of the Bishkek summit?
- "25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity".
- What do the letters S, C and O stand for in India's SCO vision?
- Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
- What did the Bishkek summit adopt?
- The Bishkek Declaration, four MoUs and more than 20 decisions.
- Who chairs the SCO for 2026-27?
- Pakistan, which will host the 2027 summit.
- When and where was the SCO founded?
- 15 June 2001, in Shanghai.
- Where are the SCO Secretariat and RATS located?
- Secretariat in Beijing; Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure in Tashkent.
- When did India become a full member of the SCO?
- 2017, at the Astana summit, along with Pakistan.
Prelims practice question
Consider the following countries:
1. Belarus
2. Iran
3. Turkey
4. Mongolia
How many of the above are full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- All four
Show answer
Answer: (b) Only two. Belarus (2024) and Iran (2023) are full members. Mongolia is an observer, and Turkey is a dialogue partner. So only two are full members.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: The SCO, cross-border terrorism and India's Eurasian diplomacy
Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India?
How to use thisUse the Bishkek summit for the SCO's current agenda, what India gains from it, and the limits India faces within the grouping.
- The 26th SCO summit at Bishkek (31 August and 1 September 2026) marked 25 years and adopted the Bishkek Declaration, four MoUs and over 20 decisions on climate, nuclear safety, energy conservation and drugs.
- India pressed its Security, Connectivity and Opportunity pillars; its proposals on English as an official SCO language and a Civilisational Dialogue Forum found place in the outcomes.
- The SCO is India's main platform with Central Asia, Russia and China together, but eight members backed the Belt and Road Initiative while India did not, and Pakistan chairs for 2026-27.
- How to use this
Use Bishkek to show the internal conflicts straining SCO consensus, and India's response through its counter-terror stance and cooperative proposals.
- In June 2025 India declined to sign an SCO defence ministers' statement that left out the Pahalgam terror attack, showing how consensus dilutes terror language.
- At Bishkek, Modi called for dismantling 'the entire ecosystem' of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens, with 'no place for double standards'.
- India backed connectivity that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity, objecting to CPEC through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and proposed a Civilisational Dialogue Forum whose first session India will host.
A reminder that India is a full SCO member; the 2026 summit adds recent membership facts (Iran 2023, Belarus 2024).
Mains practice question
The SCO gives India a seat with Russia, China and Central Asia, but not always agreement on terrorism and connectivity. Evaluate India's approach in the light of the 2026 Bishkek summit. (250 words)
Model answer
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) gives India a seat with Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asia. At the 26th summit in Bishkek (31 August and 1 September 2026), Prime Minister Modi pressed India's three pillars: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
What India gains
- Terrorism on the agenda: Modi called for dismantling "the entire ecosystem" of terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens, and for "no place for double standards".
- Central Asia access: a regular forum with the Central Asian republics and a stake in connectivity talks.
- Agenda setting: India says English as an official SCO language, a Civilisational Dialogue Forum, a Young Scientists' Forum and a Young Authors' Conclave feature in the outcomes.
- Strategic balance: a platform to engage Russia and China together.
Where it falls short
- Consensus dilutes terror language: India declined to sign the June 2025 defence ministers' statement that omitted Pahalgam.
- Connectivity split: eight members endorsed the Belt and Road Initiative in the Bishkek Declaration; India, objecting to CPEC through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, did not.
- Pakistan's chairmanship: Pakistan chairs the SCO in 2026-27 and hosts the 2027 summit.
- Crises beyond the SCO: West Asian conflict hits energy and trade routes, including India's corridors through Iran.
Way forward
- Keep pushing counter-terror cooperation through RATS and the new SCO centres.
- Offer sovereignty-respecting connectivity, such as the INSTC and Chabahar.
- Build people-to-people ties through the Civilisational Dialogue Forum and youth forums.
India's approach is selective engagement: use the SCO where interests align, and hold firm where sovereignty and terrorism are at stake.
The basics
Why this matters
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is the only regional body where India sits at one table with China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and the Central Asian republics. Its 2026 summit in Bishkek marked 25 years of the organisation and handed the chair to Pakistan. UPSC has asked about the SCO in Prelims (2022) and in Mains (2021 and 2023).
Where the SCO came from
The SCO grew out of the "Shanghai Five", a 1996 border confidence-building group of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. With Uzbekistan it became the SCO in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. It has since expanded from Central Asia to South Asia, West Asia and Eastern Europe.
- 1996Shanghai Five formed by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
- 2001SCO founded in Shanghai on 15 June, with Uzbekistan
- 2017India and Pakistan become full members at Astana
- 2023Iran joins at the India-chaired virtual summit
- 2024Belarus joins at Astana
- 202625th-anniversary summit in Bishkek; Pakistan takes the chair
How it works
Decisions are taken by consensus, so every member effectively holds a veto over the text. The top body meets once a year; two permanent bodies do the day-to-day work.
- 1Council of Heads of StateSupreme decision-making body; met in Bishkek on 31 August and 1 September 2026
- 2Council of Heads of GovernmentHandles the economic and budget agenda
- 3Council of Foreign MinistersPrepares summits and coordinates positions
- 4SecretariatPermanent administrative body in Beijing
- 5Regional Anti-Terrorist StructurePermanent counter-terrorism body in Tashkent
India's balance sheet
India uses the SCO to reach Central Asia, to press its case on cross-border terrorism through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, and to keep lines open to both Russia and China. The limits are just as clear. China and Pakistan are close partners, consensus lets members soften language on terrorism, and India refuses to endorse the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC.
- A seat with Central Asia, Russia and China together
- A forum to push 'no double standards' on terrorism
- Room for Indian initiatives such as the Civilisational Dialogue Forum
- Consensus lets members dilute text on cross-border terrorism
- The Belt and Road endorsement India will not join
- Pakistan chairs the SCO in 2026-27
For its own access to the region India backs routes such as the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Go deeper
In one line: At the SCO's 25th-anniversary summit in Bishkek (31 August and 1 September 2026), Prime Minister Modi called for dismantling the whole ecosystem of terrorism, while Pakistan took over the chair.
Why it matters for UPSC
SCO questions appear in both Prelims and Mains. This summit gives fresh material on India's terror diplomacy, its stand on the Belt and Road Initiative, and connectivity to Central Asia.
The core idea
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation brings India together with China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asia, but decides by consensus. India's priority is terrorism, which the SCO handles through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. India supports connectivity that respects sovereignty, which is why it stays out of the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC endorsement and invests in alternatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Numbers and dates to remember
- 26th Council of Heads of State: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 31 August and 1 September 2026
- Theme: "25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity"
- Outcomes: Bishkek Declaration, four MoUs, more than 20 decisions
- 8 members reaffirmed support for the Belt and Road Initiative; India did not
- Next chair: Pakistan, which will host the 2027 summit
- SCO founded 15 June 2001; India a full member since 2017
Where to go next
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: origins, members, bodies and India's place
- Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure: the SCO's counter-terror arm and the 'three evils'
- Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC: why India will not endorse China's flagship project
- International North-South Transport Corridor: India's own route to Central Asia and Russia
Go deeper: can India make the SCO work for it?
The case for staying in. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is India's main multilateral platform with the Central Asian republics, whose energy, minerals and markets India wants to reach. It is also a forum where India, China and Russia meet in one room. In Bishkek, India could point to several of its ideas in the outcomes: English as an official SCO language, a Civilisational Dialogue Forum (first session in India this year), a Young Scientists' Forum and a Young Authors' Conclave.
The terrorism test. Modi said terrorism "can never be a strategic asset for anyone", a message aimed at states that use terror as policy. The SCO's instrument is the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. But consensus cuts both ways. In June 2025 India declined to sign an SCO defence ministers' statement that left out the Pahalgam attack; the Tianjin summit declaration later that year did condemn Pahalgam. Wording depends on what every member, including Pakistan and its partner China, will accept.
The connectivity split. India says connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC, runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, so India again kept out of the Belt and Road paragraph that eight members endorsed. India's alternative routes, such as the International North-South Transport Corridor through Iran, face their own risks, since West Asia's conflicts disrupt shipping and energy.
Pakistan in the chair. Pakistan now chairs the SCO for 2026-27 and hosts the 2027 summit. That will test how far India engages with a Pakistan-run agenda while keeping its line on cross-border terrorism.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
origins, members, bodies and India's place
In one line: The SCO is a Eurasian political, security and economic grouping of ten countries, founded in Shanghai in 2001.
Members and growth
The founders were China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024, making ten. Mongolia is an observer, and states such as Turkey are dialogue partners.
How it runs
The Council of Heads of State is the top body and meets yearly; the chair rotates. The Secretariat is in Beijing and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure in Tashkent. The SCO Charter made Russian and Chinese its official languages; India says the Bishkek outcomes include its proposal to add English. Decisions are by consensus.
Why it is in the news
Its 25th-anniversary summit was held in Bishkek on 31 August and 1 September 2026, and Pakistan took over the chair for 2026-27.
Where to go next
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: every story that connects to it (2)
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure
the SCO's counter-terror arm and the 'three evils'
In one line: RATS is the SCO's permanent body for cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism, based in Tashkent.
The 'three evils'
At its founding in 2001 the SCO adopted the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, often called the fight against the "three evils". RATS is the body that turns this into practice: sharing information, maintaining databases and coordinating exercises among member states.
India's use of it
India joined RATS work when it became a full member in 2017. It uses SCO meetings to argue that there should be no "double standards" on terrorism and that states which shelter terrorists must be named. In Bishkek, Modi welcomed the new SCO centres on security threats, organised crime, information security and narcotics, and asked that they become tools for practical coordination and timely action.
Where to go next
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure: every story that connects to it (3)
Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC
why India will not endorse China's flagship project
In one line: The Belt and Road Initiative is China's global infrastructure programme, and India refuses to endorse it because its Pakistan branch runs through Indian-claimed territory.
What it is
Announced by Xi Jinping in 2013, the BRI funds roads, railways, ports and power projects across Asia, Africa and Europe. Its flagship in South Asia is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which links western China to Gwadar port in Pakistan.
India's objection
CPEC passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India considers part of its territory. India says connectivity projects must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and it has stayed away from Belt and Road endorsements. In the 2026 Bishkek Declaration, eight members reaffirmed support for the BRI; India was not one of them.
Where to go next
International North-South Transport Corridor
India's own route to Central Asia and Russia
In one line: The INSTC is a multimodal ship, rail and road route of about 7,200 km linking India to Russia through Iran.
How it works
Agreed by India, Iran and Russia in 2000, the corridor moves cargo by sea from Indian ports to Iran and then by rail and road north through Iran, the Caspian region and Azerbaijan to Russia. Its supporters say it can cut transit time and cost compared with the route through the Suez Canal. Iran's Chabahar port, where India signed a ten-year contract in May 2024 to operate a terminal, is India's gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Why it matters now
India presents such routes as connectivity that respects sovereignty, unlike CPEC. Their weakness is exposure to sanctions on Iran and to conflict in West Asia, which Modi flagged in Bishkek as a threat to energy security and maritime trade.
Where to go next
Take the 2 September 2026 quiz: 36 Prelims-style questions with answers