At SCO Summit India Refuses to Sign Joint Statement

On June 26, 2025, India took a resolute stance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China, by declining to sign a joint statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, representing India, cited the document’s failure to address cross-border terrorism adequately, particularly omitting mention of the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives, including a Nepali national. The attack, attributed to the Pakistan-based group ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF), underscored India’s concerns about state-sponsored terrorism.

Singh emphasized India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, urging SCO members to condemn nations that shelter or sponsor terrorists without ambiguity. He referenced India’s military response, Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure across the border, signaling that such threats would face decisive action.

The joint statement, however, included references to militant activities in Pakistan’s Balochistan region, which India viewed as an attempt to deflect from the Pahalgam incident, reportedly at Pakistan’s insistence.

The SCO, comprising ten member states including India, China, Pakistan, Russia, and Central Asian nations, aims to foster regional security and cooperation. However, India’s refusal to endorse the statement, which required consensus, led to the summit concluding without a joint communique. Singh’s remarks highlighted the need for unified action against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors, indirectly criticizing Pakistan’s policies.

This move aligns with India’s consistent position on multilateral platforms, as seen in its 2023 SCO summit decision to reject China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Posts on X reflected mixed sentiments, with some praising India’s firm stand against terrorism, while others noted tensions with Pakistan and China, who were perceived as diluting the focus on cross-border terror.

India’s actions reaffirm its commitment to prioritizing national security and strategic autonomy over diplomatic consensus.

Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 26th, 2025

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