Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, September 1, issued a strong warning against countries providing safe havens and support to terrorism, declaring at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit that “selective approaches are unacceptable.”

“There must be no double standards on terrorism,” Modi asserted during the plenary session of the 25th SCO Heads of State Council Summit. Stressing that “security, peace, and stability are the foundation of any country’s progress,” he warned that terrorism is not just an issue for one nation but a challenge for all of humanity.

Referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said, “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.” Without directly naming Pakistan, Modi posed a pointed question to the global community: “The question arises, can open support to terrorism by some countries be acceptable to us?”

Highlighting India’s firm stance, Modi called upon the SCO to emerge as a decisive platform to combat terrorism, radicalisation, and the financial networks that fuel them. “In the fight against terrorism, India stands firm on unity, and the SCO has an important role,” he underlined.

The Summit also came amid mounting trade tensions between India and the United States, after Washington imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian crude.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Modi held a crucial meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping — their first encounter on Chinese soil since the 2020 border clashes. Both leaders agreed that while boundary issues remain, they should not define the overall relationship.