Conflict not confined to a region, impacts global energy, trade: PM Modi

Six months into the war in West Asia, with a peace agreement still out of reach, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned at the SCO summit in Bishkek that conflicts in one region "do not remain confined there." The crisis demonstrated that "a conflict in one region does not remain confined there. It impacts global energy security, maritime trade and supply chains.

The Global South bears the brunt of these consequences," Modi said. India's stance is that all tensions and conflicts can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, not by force. Modi met with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time since the war began. The Prime Minister emphasized that terrorism remains a grave challenge and called for dismantling the entire ecosystem of terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation, and safe havens.

He stressed the need for a unified approach to combat terrorism, rejecting double standards. Over the past 25 years, the SCO has focused on security, connectivity, and opportunity. Modi outlined the organization's vision for the next 25 years, emphasizing tangible results and shared opportunities for people. He called for robust and reliable connectivity, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, and enhancing the efficiency of logistics networks.

Accessing Central Asia through Iran is crucial for India, as Pakistan has denied overland transit. For India, the SCO represents a confluence of great civilisations, cultures, and ideas. The SCO should prioritize people-to-people ties, with youth engagement and new opportunities at the forefront of cooperation.