US embassy says 'defining relationship'

TWO months after India walked out of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' statement over its silence on terrorism, the bloc on Monday took a significantly tougher stance.

- JAYANTH JACOB @ New Delhi

In a rare consensus, the Tianjin Declaration—endorsed by all member states, including Pakistan and China—strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a diplomatic win for New Delhi and a notable shift in the SCO's approach to cross-border terrorism.

The declaration, adopted at the SCO Heads of State Council meeting said, "the Member States strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the dead and the wounded. They further stated that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice."

The language closely mirrors India's position, particularly the emphasis on holding not just perpetrators but also sponsors accountable, a long-standing reference to Pakistan-based groups and their alleged state support.