At SCO's 25th Summit, PM Modi Calls for Dialogue, Zero Tolerance on Terror
PM Modi attended the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, urging dialogue over conflict and action against terror.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from August 31 to September 1, 2026. The summit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the grouping, providing an occasion for leaders to review its progress and discuss ways to enhance its role in regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity.
In his address, PM Modi thanked Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov for the warm hospitality. He described the anniversary as an opportune moment to chart a roadmap for the next quarter-century, building on the SCO's tradition of dialogue and cooperation. Recalling India's earlier vision of Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity, he urged the group to work towards concrete outcomes in these three pillars.
Reiterating India's position, PM Modi stated that conflicts cannot be resolved on the battlefield and that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path forward. He also highlighted terrorism as a grave threat to humanity, calling for committed action to dismantle the terror ecosystem and stressing that there should be no double standards in the fight against terrorism.
On regional issues, the Prime Minister noted that security in Eurasia is closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan, referencing India's development and humanitarian assistance to that country. He also underlined the importance of strong and trusted connectivity initiatives for shared progress, while emphasising that such efforts must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
PM Modi further pointed to the immense opportunities presented by technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, start-ups, and people-to-people ties for citizens of SCO member states. He appreciated the focus on youth engagement under Kyrgyzstan's presidency. He also announced that India would be delighted to host the first edition of the SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later this year, a flagship initiative aimed at fostering civilisational exchanges among member states.
The summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, four MoUs, and over twenty decisions and statements covering areas such as climate, nuclear safety, energy conservation, and combating drug addiction. India led and supported several initiatives reflected in the declaration, including the inclusion of English as an official language in the SCO Charter, the Civilisation Dialogue Forum, the Young Scientist Forum, and the Young Author's Conclave.
Concluding his remarks, PM Modi thanked President Zhaparov for the successful organisation of the summit and expressed India's commitment to working with the SCO family for shared progress and prosperity.