SCO and India's Counter-Terrorism Diplomacy: Warning Against State-Sponsored Terror
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, India's Defence Minister delivered a sharp warning against state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, citing Operation Sindoor as evidence of India's resolve to strike at "terror epicentres" wherever they exist.
The Minister stated that "terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment," a formulation widely read as a direct message about India's willingness to conduct cross-border counter-terrorism operations.
He emphasised that SCO member states must take decisive action against countries, organisations, and networks that "abet, shelter, and provide safe havens to terrorists," explicitly rejecting double standards in counter-terrorism cooperation.
The occasion also marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO (established 2001), with member states reaffirming the organisation's relevance amid growing global unpredictability.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): Structure and Mandate
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian intergovernmental organisation established on 15 June 2001 at Shanghai, evolving from the "Shanghai Five" grouping (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) formed in 1996 to manage border security after the Soviet Union's dissolution. The SCO's stated objectives are fostering political, economic, and security cooperation among member states, with special emphasis on combating what it terms the "Three Evils" — terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism.
The SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting is one of the key institutional formats through which India can formally raise cross-border terrorism at a multilateral level — especially since both India and Pakistan are co-members, creating a unique diplomatic pressure point.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): SCO's Counter-Terror Mechanism
The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is the permanent specialised body of the SCO tasked with coordinating counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and counter-extremism efforts across member states. Established by a Council of Heads of SCO Member States decision on 7 June 2002 in St. Petersburg, RATS became operational in 2004. Its mandate covers the SCO's "Three Evils": terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism.
India's Bishkek statement directly engages the RATS mandate — asserting that state-sponsored cross-border terrorism cannot be shielded by the consensus requirement and that the "Three Evils" framework must be applied without double standards or selective enforcement.
Operation Sindoor: Cross-Border Counter-Terrorism Doctrine
Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terrorist massacre, involved Indian armed forces destroying nine terror launchpads across the Line of Control. The operation articulated, through action, a doctrine of proportionate pre-emptive/retaliatory strikes on identified terror infrastructure regardless of their geographic location — a significant shift from India's prior posture of restraint.
Citing Operation Sindoor at an SCO forum was a deliberate diplomatic signal — internationalising India's counter-terrorism doctrine and using the multilateral platform to establish a normative precedent that cross-border terror safe havens are legitimate targets of counter-force.
India's Counter-Terrorism Architecture: Domestic and International Dimensions
India's counter-terrorism framework operates at both domestic and international levels. Domestically, it includes specialised agencies (National Investigation Agency, National Security Guard), legal instruments (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), and coordination bodies (National Counter Terrorism Centre — under planning). Internationally, India participates in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee, and bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation arrangements.
Key Details
- National Investigation Agency (NIA): Established under the NIA Act, 2008 (post-26/11), the NIA is the central counter-terrorism agency with jurisdiction to investigate scheduled offences across any state without requiring state consent.
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 as amended: The primary law for banning organisations, designating individuals as terrorists, and enabling stringent detention provisions. Significantly amended in 2019 to allow designation of individuals (not just organisations) as terrorists.
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF): The intergovernmental body that sets global standards for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF). India became a full FATF member in 2010. Pakistan was placed on the FATF "Grey List" from 2018 to 2022 for insufficient action against terror financing.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001): Obligates all UN members to take legislative and operational measures to prevent and suppress terrorism; India has consistently cited 1373 in arguing that state sponsorship of terrorism is a violation of international obligations.
- The UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT): India has been pushing since 1996 for adoption of this comprehensive treaty, which has been stalled largely due to disagreements over the definition of terrorism (particularly state terrorism vs. resistance movements).
India's SCO diplomacy on counter-terrorism is the multilateral expression of a domestic legal and operational architecture that has been progressively hardened over two decades — from UAPA amendments to NIA expansion to active FATF engagement.
- SCO founded: 15 June 2001, Shanghai. Evolved from the Shanghai Five (1996).
- SCO members (as of 2026): India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus (10 full members).
- India: Observer since 2005; full member since 2017 (Astana Summit).
- RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure): established 2002, operational 2004, headquartered in Tashkent.
- India chaired RATS: October 2021.
- SCO covers ~40% of world population, ~30% of global GDP.
- Operation Sindoor (May 2025): targeted nine terror launchpads following the Pahalgam attack.
- Pakistan was on FATF Grey List: 2018–2022.
- UAPA 2019 amendment: allowed designation of individuals as terrorists.
- NIA established: 2008, under the NIA Act (post-26/11 Mumbai attacks).
- India's proposed CCIT (UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism): pending since India's proposal in 1996.
- SCO 25th anniversary: 2026.