Onlykashmir.in News Desk
At the recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China (June 25–26), Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declined to sign the joint statement, citing the SCO’s failure to directly address India’s long-standing concerns over cross-border terrorism.
India, during the summit, raised alarm over the growing threat of terrorism emanating from across its borders, specifically referencing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Singh highlighted Pakistan’s alleged support for terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy, The Resistance Front, which are believed to be behind the attack.
Despite India’s push, the final SCO communiqué reportedly lacked any concrete language or commitment on tackling cross-border terrorism. As a result, India withheld its endorsement, and the summit ended without a unified statement from all member states.
Addressing the meeting, Singh emphasized that there should be “no double standards” when it comes to confronting terrorism. “Radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism are the biggest threats to peace, security, and trust in the region,” he said, urging member nations to take collective and decisive action.
Singh reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance policy, stating that the country reserves the right to act against terror infrastructure, including across borders. “We have shown that the epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe. India will not hesitate to act in self-defence,” he said.
In retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, escalating tensions and triggering a four-day military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
India’s stance at the SCO underscores its insistence on international recognition and condemnation of state-sponsored terrorism and reflects growing frustration with what it sees as the global community’s reluctance to confront it head-on.
