The 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) concluded in Bishkek after bringing together leaders of the organisation’s member states for discussions on security, connectivity, development, trade and regional cooperation.

The summit was held from August 31 to September 1, 2026, under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan. The year also marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO, giving the summit additional significance as members discussed the organisation’s future direction.

For India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the summit to push key priorities including counter-terrorism, connectivity, youth engagement, technology and civilisational cooperation.

The official theme of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek is “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”

1. SCO Marks 25 Years of Regional Cooperation

• The 26th SCO Summit was particularly important because it coincided with the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
• Prime Minister Modi said the anniversary provided an opportunity to develop a roadmap for the next 25 years, building on the SCO’s tradition of dialogue and cooperation.
• The summit therefore focused not only on immediate regional challenges but also on how the SCO could strengthen its role in promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity across the region.

2. PM Modi Delivers Strong Message Against Terrorism

• One of India’s most prominent messages at the 26th SCO Summit 2026 concerned terrorism.
• PM Modi called terrorism a grave threat to humanity and urged SCO members to take committed action to dismantle the terror ecosystem.
• He also stressed that there should be no double standards in the fight against terrorism.
• The message was particularly significant because counter-terrorism remains one of the core areas of SCO cooperation.

India’s key position

• India argued that fighting terrorism should not be limited to responding to individual attacks. Countries must also address the broader ecosystem that enables terrorism to survive.
• This includes international cooperation against terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and support networks.

3. Afghanistan Remains a Major Regional Security Concern

• PM Modi also highlighted the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for wider Eurasian security.
• India reiterated its development and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan while linking Afghan stability with the broader security environment of the region.
• For the SCO, Afghanistan remains strategically important because instability there can affect Central Asia and neighbouring regions.

4. India Pushes ‘Trusted Connectivity’

• Connectivity was another major theme of India’s participation.
• PM Modi said strong and trusted connectivity initiatives could help link markets, improve trade and create new development opportunities.
• At the same time, he reiterated India’s position that connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
• This reflects India’s broader approach to regional infrastructure and connectivity projects: greater economic integration should go hand in hand with respect for national sovereignty.

5. Technology, Start-ups and Young People Get a Major Push

The summit also looked beyond traditional security issues.

PM Modi highlighted the opportunities created by:

• Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Innovation
• Start-ups
• Youth engagement
• People-to-people connections

He welcomed the emphasis on youth engagement during Kyrgyzstan’s SCO chairmanship.

This signals India’s effort to expand SCO cooperation into emerging areas such as technology, innovation and education.

6. English to Become an Official SCO Language

One of the notable initiatives backed by India was the inclusion of English as an official language in the SCO Charter.

India also supported several other initiatives that were reflected in the Bishkek Declaration, including:

• SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum
• SCO Young Scientist Forum
• Young Author’s Conclave

The Indian government said these initiatives were included in the outcomes of the summit.

The move on English could make communication and institutional interaction easier for a wider range of participants across the organisation.

7. India to Host First SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum

• PM Modi announced that India would be pleased to host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later in 2026.
• The initiative is intended to promote civilisational exchanges among SCO member states.
• India sees cultural and civilisational connections as an important tool for strengthening people-to-people relations across Eurasia.

8. Bishkek Declaration Adopted

• A key outcome of the summit was the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration.
• According to the SCO Secretariat, the heads-of-state meeting approved 28 documents, including the Bishkek Declaration, a protocol amending the SCO Charter and a statement concerning assistance to states affected by emergencies.
• The summit’s decisions covered a broad range of areas, including:
• Security | Trade | Investment | Energy | Industry | Environment | Tourism | Technology
• The SCO Secretariat said the meeting also addressed the organisation’s role in the international agenda.

9. Four MoUs and More Than 20 Decisions Adopted

India’s Ministry of External Affairs/PIB said that, in addition to the Bishkek Declaration, the summit adopted four MoUs and more than 20 decisions and statements.

These covered areas including:

• Climate
• Nuclear safety
• Energy conservation
• Combating drug addiction

The wide-ranging outcomes show that SCO cooperation is increasingly extending beyond traditional security issues.

10. Pakistan Takes Over SCO Chairmanship

• The Bishkek summit also marked the transition of the SCO chairmanship.
• According to the SCO Secretariat, Pakistan assumed the chairmanship for 2026–27.
• Pakistan’s chairmanship theme was announced as:
• “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
• The city of Lahore was also given the status of SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026–27.

About SCO:

• SCO Headquarters: Beijing, China
• RATS Executive Committee: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• SCO Secretary-General: Nurlan Yermekbayev
• RATS Executive Committee Director: Ularbek Sharsheev

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