Qingdao, China, June 27: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declined to sign the joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, citing the bloc’s failure to address concerns over cross-border terrorism, officials said on Thursday.
According to reports from the Press Trust of India, Singh withheld India’s endorsement of the final document after it failed to include a clear and direct reference to terrorism originating across borders, a long-standing concern for New Delhi, particularly in relation to Pakistan.
The SCO meeting, held from June 25 to 26, brought together defence leaders from member states including India, China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations. However, the discussions concluded without a joint statement due to India’s objection.
Speaking at the meeting, Singh underscored the need for the SCO to adopt a firm and unified stance against terrorism, warning against “double standards” in combating extremist threats. “The biggest challenges in our region are related to peace, security, and trust deficit. The root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism,” he said.
Singh specifically referenced the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. He blamed Pakistan-backed groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front, for the assault. “The pattern of the Pahalgam attack matches with LeT’s previous terror attacks in India,” Singh said.
In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched a cross-border operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strike triggered a four-day military stand-off between the two countries.
Singh reiterated India’s right to defend itself against terrorism and warned that “epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe.” India’s refusal to sign the statement marks a rare instance of discord within the SCO, a bloc that typically aims to present a unified front on regional security issues.
