Qingdao [China], June 26 (ANI): India on Thursday declined to sign a joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, citing dissatisfaction with the language of the document that failed to mention the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, but referred to incidents in Pakistan, according to government sources.
Sources revealed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refrained from signing the SCO declaration as it did not acknowledge the heinous Pahalgam attack, while offering mention to events in Pakistan. As a result, there was no joint communique issued following the meeting.
Addressing the session, Singh strongly urged SCO member states to adopt a firm and united stance against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors. Without explicitly naming Pakistan, Singh criticized countries that sponsor and shelter terrorists, asserting that “peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism.”
“I believe that the biggest challenges facing our region are related to peace, security, and trust deficit. The root cause of these problems lies in increasing radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism,” Singh said.
He stressed that there should be no room for double standards, and SCO must not hesitate to condemn nations that support terror. “Those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards,” Singh remarked.
India, a key SCO member alongside China, Russia, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations, has consistently advocated for a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. Singh reiterated this stand, emphasizing India’s right to defend itself against terror and warning that terrorism epicentres “are no longer safe.”
Singh referred to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, calling it a “heinous act” in which 26 civilians, including a Nepali national, were killed. The victims were reportedly targeted based on their religious identity. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of UN-designated terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.
Highlighting India’s response, Singh noted that on May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure and deter further attacks. “India reiterates the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorism accountable. Any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motivation, location, or perpetrator,” he declared.
Singh also warned of the emerging use of technology by terrorist groups, such as drones for smuggling weapons and narcotics, and highlighted the necessity of a unified, tech-driven response to modern threats including cyberattacks and hybrid warfare.
On broader regional cooperation, Singh underlined India’s commitment to enhancing connectivity with Central Asia to promote trade and trust. However, he stressed that such efforts must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, in line with the SCO charter.
“India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. We must collectively address today’s challenges and fulfill the aspirations of our people. Stability and security in our shared neighbourhood must be our common endeavour,” Singh concluded. (ANI)
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