Bishkek, Sep 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to strengthen the three pillars of cooperation — security, connectivity and opportunity — and move from vision to measurable outcomes.

Addressing the 26th SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek, PM Modi noted that the 25th anniversary of the Summit was an opportune time to lay the roadmap for the next 25 years, building upon the strong tradition of dialogue and cooperation developed by SCO.

“At the previous meeting, I had outlined the three main pillars of India’s vision for the SCO: S – Security, C – Connectivity, and O – Opportunity. The time has come to move these three pillars beyond vision and translate them into concrete outcomes. The first and foremost requirement for this is peace and security,” he said.

“Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity as a whole. In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach. We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens. We must speak with one voice and make it clear that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue,” added PM Modi.

In today’s interconnected world, PM Modi highlighted, the scope of security has become even broader.

“The crisis in West Asia has demonstrated that a conflict in one region does not remain confined to that region. Its impact is felt across the world, affecting energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains. The countries of the Global South bear the greatest brunt of such disruptions. Therefore, India has consistently called for all tensions and conflicts to be resolved not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.

Noting that security in the Eurasia region was closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan, he also highlighted India’s development and humanitarian assistance to the country.

“We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone. Our shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan. India has been contributing to the development and provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and will continue to do so,” mentioned PM Modi.

Prime Minister Modi further stated that strong and trusted connectivity initiatives were important for the group’s shared progress and prosperity. He spotlighted that, at a time when the world is passing through uncertainty and instability, shared geography should be transformed into shared opportunities to bring about a positive change in the lives of people.

Underlining that India supports connectivity efforts that link markets, enhance trade and open new opportunities for development, he reiterated that such efforts should respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.

“From shared geography to shared opportunities, from vision to outcomes, and from government-driven cooperation to people-driven partnership. With the same belief and commitment, India is ready to contribute to the SCO family’s shared journey,” he assured the gathering of SCO leaders.

PM Modi mentioned that for India, the SCO is a confluence of great civilisations, cultures, and ideas. Over the next 25 years of the SCO, he said, people-to-people ties should remain at the heart of cooperation.

He further elaborated that technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, start-ups and people-to-people initiatives open immense opportunities for people in the SCO countries.

“Our cooperation in the SCO should not be merely government-driven; it should also be people-driven. I am pleased that, under Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship, special emphasis has been placed on youth engagement within the SCO. India has taken initiatives such as the SCO Start-up Forum, Young Authors’ Conclave, and Young Scientists’ Forum.

“Last year, India proposed the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum. I am pleased that its first session will be held in India this year. I am confident that with the active participation of all of you, this forum will become a strong platform for vibrant dialogue within the SCO,” said PM Modi.

Bishkek, Sep 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message against terrorism at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, calling for dismantling the entire ecosystem of terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens, stating that it cannot be used as a “strategic asset for anyone”.

Addressing the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek on Tuesday, PM Modi stressed that terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity and asserted that there can be no room for double standards on terrorism.

“Terrorism continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity. In our fight against it, we cannot limit ourselves to a mindset of action and reaction. We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens,” the Prime Minister said.

“We must speak with one voice that there can be no room for double standards on this serious issue. Those countries which make terrorism a tool of their policy, provide shelter and support to terrorists, will have to be given a strong message that terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone,” he added.

PM Modi reiterated India’s stance that all wars and conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and not on the battlefield. He said that the conflict in West Asia is not confined to that region and impacts the energy security, maritime trade and supply chains of the whole world.

“In today’s interconnected world, the scope of security has expanded even further. The crisis in West Asia has shown that conflict in one region is not confined to that region. It impacts the entire world’s energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains. Countries in the Global South bear the brunt of this. Therefore, India has been calling for the resolution of all tensions and wars through dialogue and diplomacy, not on the battlefield,” he said.

The Prime Minister flagged drug trafficking as a serious threat to the young generation and regional security. He welcomed the centres being established within the SCO to address challenges like security threats, organised crime, information security, and narcotics as a “positive step” and called for making them effective instruments of practical coordination and timely action.

PM Modi expressed India’s support for efforts to connect markets, facilitate trade and create new pathways for development.

“Another foundation for our shared development is strong and reliable connectivity. India supports all efforts that connect markets, facilitate trade, and open new avenues for development. However, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is essential in these efforts. This is also the core spirit of the SCO Charter,” he said.

“In the coming times, the scope of connectivity will become even more extensive. Along with roads, railways, and air corridors, we will need to simplify customs processes, promote digital documentation, and make logistics networks more efficient,” he added.

He outlined three main pillars of India’s approach to SCO – Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. He said that cooperation of SCO members should be people-driven and not government-driven and highlighted India’s initiatives taken by India within the SCO.

“Our cooperation in the SCO should be people-driven, not just government-driven. I am pleased that under Kyrgyzstan’s presidency, special emphasis has been placed on youth engagement in the SCO. India has taken initiatives such as the Start-up Forum, the Young Authors’ Conclave, and the Young Scientists’ Forum within the SCO,” he added.

“Last year, India proposed the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum. I am pleased that its first session will be held in India this year. I am confident that with your active participation, this Forum will become a powerful platform for vibrant dialogue within the SCO,” he added.

The SCO comprises 10 member states – Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It has two observer states – Azerbaijan and Armenia and 15 dialogue partners – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sri Lanka.

Dhaka, Sep 1: Bangladesh’s Hindu community is facing mounting fear, intimidation and insecurity amid continued violence and weak institutional protection, said lawyer and minority rights activist Chaitali Chakraborty, warning that the situation could push increasing numbers of Hindus to leave the country.

In an interview with Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, editor of the Bangladeshi newspaper ‘Blitz’, Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Chakraborty said that the situation for religious minorities in the country has sharply deteriorated since the political upheaval of August 5, 2024.

Chakraborty said that the growing sense of insecurity is not confined to Bangladesh’s Hindu community, with ordinary citizens across the country also feeling increasingly vulnerable. However, she stressed that Hindus bear an added burden because of their religious identity, while those who speak out for minority rights can themselves become targets of intimidation.

“From August 5 until today, we are really in an unstable environment, and we have no security,” she told Blitz.

Her warning comes against a backdrop of intensifying global scrutiny of Bangladesh over allegations of communal violence, attacks against minorities, alongside concerns over institutional weakness and the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Speaking about the brutal murder of four members of a Hindu family in Bangladesh’s Rangpur city and mounting questions over the police probe, Chakraborty said that fear of retaliation was preventing local residents from sharing crucial information.

The incident occurred on August 20, with police recovering the bodies of all four family members two days later, on the night of August 22.

The deceased were identified as retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, 65; his wife, Pritilata Chakraborty, 50; their daughter, Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 23; and their son, Priyam Chakraborty, 12.

She argued that the brutality of the killings called for an impartial and comprehensive probe, saying the seemingly deliberate and organised nature of the attack raised questions about the possible involvement of professional or ideologically driven perpetrators.

Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh, Chakraborty said the most serious warning concerned the long-term demographic consequences of insecurity. She noted that continued unchecked violence, intimidation and discrimination could lead to a substantial decline in the country’s Hindu population, as people are forced to choose between abandoning their ancestral homeland and living amid the growing insecurity.

She warned that Bangladesh could be left with no Hindu population within a decade if the situation she described persists.

Her warning reflects a longstanding concern among minority-rights advocates that communal violence does not necessarily lead to mass displacement overnight, but that persistent insecurity, property disputes, social intimidation, economic pressure and fear can steadily push minority families to migrate, Blitz reported.

Chakraborty urged international lawmakers and policymakers to take note of the persecution and intimidation targeting Hindus, calling on legislators in the United States, Britain and the European Union to raise the issue with Bangladesh and press its authorities to ensure the protection of minority citizens.