Congress Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram has criticised the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Tianjin Declaration, dismissing it as “inane” and questioning its credibility given Pakistan’s endorsement.
In a post on X, Chidambaram pointed out that the declaration’s strong condemnation of terrorism lost its meaning when signed by Pakistan. “The Tianjin Declaration strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It was signed and adopted by Pakistan. That shows the worth of the Declaration,” he wrote.
He further argued that unless the international community differentiates between “terrorism-exporting” and “terrorism-affected” countries, such declarations will remain hollow.
Chidambaram’s remarks came after SCO member states adopted the Tianjin Declaration, which included a strong stance against terrorism. The statement also condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and urging accountability for the perpetrators and their sponsors.
The declaration reaffirmed members’ commitment to fighting terrorism, separatism, and extremism, while rejecting any attempts to exploit such groups for mercenary purposes.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 25th SCO Council of Heads of State in Tianjin, thanked member states for their solidarity following the Pahalgam attack. He urged collective, decisive action against terrorism, stressing that “there should be no double standards in fighting terrorism.”
According to MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the Prime Minister also highlighted India’s vision for cooperation under the SCO, focusing on three pillars—Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity.
