New Delhi: It was a major diplomatic win for India, with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members for the first time, collectively condemning the Pahalgam terror attack in their joint declaration at Tianjin.
But what also is of significance is the frontal attack by the US president Donald Trump through Peter Navarro, the White House trade advisor after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit in China on Monday, September 1. Navarro said it was a ‘shame’ to see PM Modi meeting Jinping and Putin.
“It was a shame to see Modi getting in bed with Xi Jinping and Putin. I am not sure what he is thinking. We hope he comes around to seeing that he needs to be with us and not Russia,” Navarro told reporters on September 1. Overall, Navarro’s comment on Prime Minister Modi was most uncalled for and in a rather bad taste.
The Tianjin declaration stated, “The Member States strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.” The member nations expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the injured. They further emphasised that the perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice.
What is of equal import is that the emergence of the Tianjin Troika has led to a further downward spiral in the Indo-US relations and tough talking by officials of the Trump administration. Similarly, another piquant situation is that since China has always considered Pakistan to be an all-weather friend, how would this Sino-Indian closeness impact Sino-Pak relations
Reaffirming their firm commitment to the fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the SCO members stressed the inadmissibility of any attempts to use terrorist, separatist, or extremist groups for mercenary purposes.
However, what is of equal import is that the emergence of the Tianjin Troika has led to a further downward spiral in the Indo-US relations and tough talking by officials of the Trump administration. Similarly, another piquant situation is that since China has always considered Pakistan to be an all-weather friend, how would this Sino-Indian closeness impact Sino-Pak relations. Would Indo-US relations also take a downward spiral in view of the Tianjin Summit and the tough stand towards India regarding tariff by US rising it to 50 per cent, continue?
Also unprecedented was the 45-minutes talks that Modi and Putin had in the Russian leader’s car, showing the value that the two leaders attach to their one-to-one talks. The meeting came after the imposition of 50 per cent tariff hike on Indian exports by the US as a move to pressure India to detach itself from Russia, but PM Modi remained firm in his diplomatic forays.
The declaration also recognised the leading role of sovereign states and their competent authorities in countering terrorist and extremist threats. It said, “The Member States strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stress that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and call on the international community to combat terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists.”
The SCO Summit also helped PM Modi to bond well with the Chinese premier and the Russian president, on finding ways to handle the US tariffs and promoting BRICS as an alternate trade alliance
The inclusion of the condemnation of terrorism and extremism at the Tianjin Summit is widely seen as a recognition of India’s firm and proactive stance against terrorism. Earlier, India had opted out of the SCO Defence Ministers’ statement over differences with China and Pakistan on addressing the terrorism issue.
The 2025 SCO Defence Ministers’ summit witnessed an unprecedented diplomatic moment when Indian defence minister refused to sign the joint statement during the meeting in Qingdao, China. The original joint statement had mentioned the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan in March 2025, but excluded any reference to the Pahalgam terror attack. This bold decision resonated across the geopolitical landscape, underscoring India’s uncompromising position on terrorism and its commitment to strategic autonomy.
India’s refusal to compromise at the SCO Summit reflected several strategic considerations, foremost among them a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism.
The SCO Summit also helped PM Modi to bond well with the Chinese premier and the Russian president, on finding ways to handle the US tariffs and promoting BRICS as an alternate trade alliance.
– The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda.
