India Rejects Joint Declaration at SCO Summit Over Terrorism Concerns

At the recent SCO meeting in China, India took a stand against the regional bloc's joint statement, emphasizing its concerns about terrorism, particularly following a high-profile militant attack in Kashmir.

 

India has chosen not to sign the joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in China, as it claims the document does not adequately address its concerns regarding terrorism. India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that the desire for a reflection of its security issues was "unacceptable to one particular country." While he refrained from naming the country, Indian media has indicated that the omission of the recent Pahalgam attack—a terrorist incident that left 26 tourists dead in Indian-administered Kashmir—was the pivotal reason for India's refusal.

New Delhi has attributed the militant attack to Pakistan, alleging that it harbors the group responsible. Pakistan, however, has refuted these claims. The SCO, originally formed in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations to curtail Western influence, later welcomed India and Pakistan into its ranks in 2017. The joint declaration was intended to follow discussions at the summit's defence ministers' meeting, which took place before the leaders' annual gathering scheduled for this autumn.

Reports indicate that India perceived the document as "pro-Pakistan," especially because it discussed militant actions in Balochistan while sidelining the deadly Pahalgam incident. India has rejected Pakistan’s allegations that it supports the Balochistan freedom movement in turn.

During the meeting, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for accountability regarding cross-border terrorism, although he did not specifically mention Pakistan. "Some countries utilize cross-border terrorism as a policy tool and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no acceptance of such double standards. The SCO must not shy away from criticizing these nations," he asserted.

The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states, have historically revolved around the disputed region of Kashmir. The Pahalgam attack in April triggered near-conflict conditions between the two nations. Following the incident, India conducted airstrikes on what it termed "terror infrastructure" in Pakistan and its administrated regions. Pakistan dismissed these assertions, leading to retaliatory actions, including missile strikes into Indian territory.

Hostilities escalated until May 10, when then-US President Donald Trump announced an immediate ceasefire that was brokered by the United States, a claim India has continuously denied.