At SCO Summit, Modi Says West Asia Crisis Shows Conflicts Have Global Fallout

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that the ongoing West Asia conflict demonstrates how a regional crisis can have worldwide repercussions. Speaking at the summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, he said the war has affected global energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains, with the Global South bearing the heaviest burden.

Modi reiterated India's position that "the resolution of all tensions and conflicts is possible only through dialogue and diplomacy, not on the battlefield." His remarks came as the conflict in West Asia completed six months without a peace deal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was among the leaders present; Modi and Pezeshkian had met a day earlier for the first time since the war began.

In a pointed message delivered as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listened, Modi called terrorism a "grave challenge for all of humanity." He urged the grouping to move beyond an "action-reaction" mindset and dismantle the entire ecosystem of terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. "Countries that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy and provide shelter and support to terrorists must be sent a strong message: Terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone," he said.

Modi also outlined India's vision for the SCO, built on three pillars: Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity. He stressed the need for "robust and reliable connectivity" while underlining that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain paramount. He called for simplifying customs procedures, promoting digital documentation, and enhancing logistics networks.

On opportunity, Modi said the benefits of SCO cooperation must reach ordinary people. He highlighted initiatives such as the Start-up Forum, Young Authors' Conclave, and Young Scientists' Forum, and noted that the first session of the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum will be held in India this year.

Quoting Kyrgyz author-diplomat Chingiz Aitmatov, Modi said the SCO should focus on what unites its members rather than what separates them. "From shared geography to shared opportunities, from vision to outcomes, and from government-driven cooperation to people-driven partnership," he said, adding that India is ready to contribute to the SCO family's common journey.

The summit was also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pakistan is set to host the next SCO summit in 2027.