India Declines to Sign Joint Statement at SCO Defence Meeting Over Terrorism Concerns

India's Position at the SCO Meeting

India refrained from endorsing a joint statement during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in China, citing that the document failed to adequately address its stance on terrorism, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.

According to spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, India sought to have its concerns regarding terrorism included in the statement, which was not accepted by one specific nation.

The joint statement reportedly omitted any mention of the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, as reported by a local news outlet.

The SCO, established in 2001, comprises member nations including India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.

During the meeting in Qingdao, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged member states to unite in combating terrorism in all its forms, as highlighted by Jaiswal in the briefing.

Singh emphasized the necessity of holding accountable those responsible for acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

He pointed out that the region faces significant challenges related to peace, security, and trust deficits, with radicalization and extremism being the primary causes of these issues, according to reports.

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Singh remarked that some nations utilize cross-border terrorism as a tool and provide refuge to terrorists, asserting that there should be no tolerance for such double standards. He called for the SCO to openly criticize such countries.

Singh also discussed Operation Sindoor, stating that India conducted strikes in response to the Pahalgam attack, exercising its right to defend against terrorism and prevent further cross-border assaults.

The attack in Baisaran near Pahalgam on April 22 resulted in 26 fatalities and 16 injuries, with terrorists reportedly targeting tourists based on their religious identities, according to police reports. Most of the victims were Hindu.

In retaliation, the Indian military executed strikes on May 7, dubbed Operation Sindoor, targeting what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Pakistan Army responded to these strikes by shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 Indian civilians and eight military personnel.

On May 10, both India and Pakistan reached an agreement to cease hostilities following a four-day conflict.