Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin in August 2025.

Modi emphasised that cross-border terrorism is a scourge that affects both India and China, requesting China's support in combating it. In response, the Chinese side extended their support and understanding to India in this joint fight against terrorism.

This development comes amid efforts by India and China to reset and improve bilateral relations, which had been strained due to border stand-offs and geopolitical tensions.

Besides terrorism, the two leaders discussed ways to increase trade, maintain peace and stability along their border, enhance people-to-people ties, and strengthen cooperation on trans-border river issues. Modi also noted that both India and China pursue strategic autonomy and that their bilateral ties should not be viewed through the lens of a third country.

The meeting occurred against the backdrop of India's tensions with the United States over tariffs and a larger geopolitical realignment involving Russia and Pakistan.

The SCO summit also marked Modi's first in-person meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif since recent terror incidents in Kashmir, highlighting the complex regional dynamics at play.

The Modi-Xi meeting signalled a significant step in thawing relations between the two Asian powers and underscored a shared commitment to battling terrorism and promoting stability in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to China for the SCO summit—the first in seven years—highlighted the urgent issue of cross-border terrorism, particularly relating to attacks sourced from Pakistan, which India has long linked to terrorist activities against it.

Modi laid out a clear and specific understanding of how terrorism constitutes a mutual threat to both India and China, calling for greater cooperation and support from China in addressing this menace.

The Chinese government, under President Xi Jinping, responded by expressing support for India's stance and the need for joint efforts to combat terrorism, a shift reflecting a slight change in China's traditionally cautious approach to matters of terror that might implicate its ally Pakistan.

In the course of the bilateral talks, the leaders reinforced the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the India-China border. After years of tension punctuated by violent clashes such as the 2020 Galwan Valley face-off, recent disengagements and agreements on border management have created an atmosphere conducive to peace.

Modi pointed out that stability on the border is akin to an insurance policy that underpins the entire bilateral relationship, which the two sides committed to nurturing on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.

Both leaders acknowledged the importance of broadening their cooperation beyond security to include expanding bilateral trade, strengthening people-to-people ties, and cooperating on trans-border river management, reflecting their roles as major Asian economies aiming to stabilise global commerce and contribute to regional peace.

Modi explicitly noted that their strategic autonomy should be respected and that bilateral ties should not be viewed from the perspective of any third country, indirectly signalling a realignment away from the US-India tensions triggered by American tariffs targeting Indian exports and energy purchases from Russia.

Another noteworthy aspect of Modi's visit was the first face-to-face proximity at the summit with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif since the recent terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam area, underscoring the complex and tense regional environment.

China's prior reluctance to mention the Pahalgam attack in joint statements at SCO meetings had been seen as a diplomatic nod to Pakistan, but the current Chinese support to India against terrorism marks a subtle but positive shift.

Modi's engagement with Xi Jinping culminated with agreements to resume direct flights between India and China, the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, and a mutual desire to move bilateral relations forward constructively.

The meeting suggested a thaw in India-China ties after years of border tensions and diplomatic ups and downs, positioning both nations to face common challenges like terrorism together while safeguarding their strategic interests and autonomy in a changing global order.

Based On NDTV Report