India and China signaled a shift towards greater cooperation on counter-terrorism as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The Ministry of External Affairs said Beijing extended support to New Delhi on the issue, a move seen as significant given China’s long-standing partnership with Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that terrorism featured prominently in the discussions. “The Prime Minister raised the issue very specifically, underlining that both India and China are victims of this scourge. He sought China’s support, which they expressed,” Misri told reporters. Modi also highlighted cross-border terrorism as a top priority, urging “mutual understanding and support” in combating it.

The development comes after tensions in June, when India declined to endorse a joint SCO statement that omitted mention of the Pahalgam terror attack, instead referencing violence in Balochistan. That move was interpreted in New Delhi as Beijing shielding Islamabad. However, with India-U.S. ties strained following President Donald Trump’s steep 50 per cent tariff hike on Indian goods, New Delhi and Beijing appear to be recalibrating their relationship.

Officials said Modi emphasized that India and China both pursue “strategic autonomy” and should not allow ties to be viewed through a “third-country lens.” Both leaders agreed to build common ground on regional and global challenges, including terrorism. For Beijing, the concern is not only cross-border militancy but also the threat of Islamic extremism in Xinjiang and against Chinese nationals abroad as its global footprint expands.

The SCO summit will also see Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif share the stage for the first time since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. This is Modi’s first in-person SCO participation since 2022, after India hosted virtually in 2023 and he skipped the 2024 edition in Kazakhstan.

India and China signaled a shift towards greater cooperation on counter-terrorism as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The Ministry of External Affairs said Beijing extended support to New Delhi on the issue, a move seen as significant given China’s long-standing partnership with Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that terrorism featured prominently in the discussions. “The Prime Minister raised the issue very specifically, underlining that both India and China are victims of this scourge. He sought China’s support, which they expressed,” Misri told reporters. Modi also highlighted cross-border terrorism as a top priority, urging “mutual understanding and support” in combating it.

The development comes after tensions in June, when India declined to endorse a joint SCO statement that omitted mention of the Pahalgam terror attack, instead referencing violence in Balochistan. That move was interpreted in New Delhi as Beijing shielding Islamabad. However, with India-U.S. ties strained following President Donald Trump’s steep 50 per cent tariff hike on Indian goods, New Delhi and Beijing appear to be recalibrating their relationship.

Officials said Modi emphasized that India and China both pursue “strategic autonomy” and should not allow ties to be viewed through a “third-country lens.” Both leaders agreed to build common ground on regional and global challenges, including terrorism. For Beijing, the concern is not only cross-border militancy but also the threat of Islamic extremism in Xinjiang and against Chinese nationals abroad as its global footprint expands.

The SCO summit will also see Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif share the stage for the first time since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. This is Modi’s first in-person SCO participation since 2022, after India hosted virtually in 2023 and he skipped the 2024 edition in Kazakhstan.