The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit has once again demonstrated that the fight against terrorism cannot be diluted by diplomatic convenience. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s firm message against terrorism, delivered in the presence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, carried significance far beyond the conference hall. It was a reminder that peace and terrorism cannot coexist, and that the international community must stop making distinctions between different forms and sponsors of terror. India’s position has been consistent: terrorism is not merely a security challenge; it is a direct threat to development, stability and human dignity. For a region seeking greater connectivity, trade and economic cooperation, terrorism remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress. The SCO, which brings together major regional powers, has a particular responsibility in this regard. Its credibility depends not only on economic cooperation but also on its ability to confront security threats collectively. Any selective approach towards terrorism weakens the organisation’s larger objective of building a stable and prosperous Eurasian region. Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on dismantling the entire terror ecosystem is especially relevant. Terror networks do not operate in isolation. They depend on financing, recruitment, propaganda, safe havens and logistical support. Merely condemning attacks after they occur is insufficient. The ecosystem that sustains terrorism must be targeted with equal determination. Pakistan’s presence at the summit makes the message even more consequential. India has repeatedly maintained that dialogue and cooperation require an environment free from terrorism and violence. If regional peace is genuinely desired, all countries must demonstrate through action—not merely words—that terrorist organisations and their support structures will not be tolerated. The SCO can play a decisive role by strengthening intelligence cooperation, preventing terror financing, countering online radicalisation and ensuring that no member state provides space for terrorist groups. The principle must be simple: there can be no good terrorists, no bad terrorists and no double standards. India’s message is ultimately not against any people or nation. It is against an ideology and infrastructure that have caused immense suffering across the region. South Asia and the wider Eurasian neighbourhood deserve an era in which young people pursue education, businesses create jobs and borders facilitate commerce rather than fear. The SCO must therefore turn its declarations into measurable action. Terrorism should never be allowed to become a bargaining chip in diplomacy. Peace demands courage. And the first test of that courage is refusing to compromise with terror.