India is actively working with its partners to ensure that the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit declaration includes a strong condemnation of terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.
Tanmaya Lal, MEA Secretary (West), addressing a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Japan and China, underlined that combating terrorism remains a core objective of the SCO.
“The declaration for this summit is under finalisation. We are engaging with other members to ensure it reiterates a strong condemnation of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. The text is still being worked on,” he said.
Lal emphasized that terrorism continues to pose a major challenge, making regional security a top priority for SCO members. He recalled that past summit declarations—including the one finalised during India’s presidency of the 23rd SCO Summit—have also carried strong language condemning terrorism in all its forms.
Earlier this month, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told Parliament that one of the primary goals of the SCO, as outlined in Article 1 of its Charter, is joint action against terrorism, separatism, and extremism. The organisation also seeks to curb narcotics and arms trafficking, other forms of transnational crime, and illegal migration.
Prime Minister Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the SCO Summit. He is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. (Source: ANI)
