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India has refused to endorse a joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting after sharp disagreements emerged over references to recent terrorist attacks.
According to official sources, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh firmly objected to what he viewed as an attempt to “dilute” the collective stance on terrorism—specifically, efforts by China and Pakistan to exclude the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack from the statement, while pushing for inclusion of the Jaffar Express attack.
“The Defence Minister was very clear that there cannot be double standards when it comes to terror. It is important for SCO to stand together on the issue. The threat of terror cannot be diluted,” a government source told BharatShakti. As a result of the impasse, no joint communique was issued following the meeting.
The controversy unfolded just days after India launched Operation Sindoor, a targeted military response to the brutal attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, in which 26 Indian and Nepalese pilgrims were killed. The attack was carried out by terrorists from The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Victims were separated by religion before being executed — an act that Singh described as “heinous” and “premeditated.”
Delivering a hard-hitting speech in Qingdao, Singh asserted that peace and prosperity in the region cannot be achieved without an uncompromising stance on terrorism. “Every act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable. SCO must stand united to eliminate the menace,” he declared, warning against selective condemnation and calling out the politicisation of counter-terror narratives.
India Urges Unified Action, Proposes Counter-Terror Framework
India also introduced a set of concrete proposals aimed at enhancing the collective capacity of SCO members to address terrorism and radicalisation, including:
- An algorithm of joint actions to counter global terror networks
- Joint measures to prevent radicalisation and extremism
- A joint information operation to combat extremist content both online and offline
These proposals were received positively by several SCO member states, and India expressed gratitude for the support.
NSA Doval: “Religious Profiling Attack Was a Crime Against Humanity”
Two days earlier, at the SCO National Security Advisers’ Meeting in Beijing, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval elaborated on the Pahalgam attack and India’s subsequent military response. He called the strike “measured and non-escalatory,” intended to prevent further cross-border infiltration. “The TRF is a proxy of a UN-designated terror group. This attack, based on religious profiling, was a crime against humanity,” Doval said.
He stated that international terror outfits such as LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al Qaeda, and ISIS continue to pose a threat and must be confronted with zero tolerance. Doval underscored the need for SCO members to hold terror sponsors and financiers accountable, warning against “ambiguous” positions that only embolden extremist forces.
Broader and Non-Traditional Threats
Beyond terrorism, Singh’s address focused on a widening array of transnational threats. He spoke of the destabilising impact of cyber-attacks, climate change, pandemics, and hybrid warfare. “These threats do not respect borders. Drones are being used to smuggle arms, cyber tools to disrupt democracies. We must respond collectively,” Singh stated.
He cited India’s leadership in initiatives like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a global platform for strengthening infrastructure against climate disasters, as an example of successful multilateralism.
Geopolitical Tensions and Regional Cooperation
Singh also cautioned against the growing fragility of global governance. He pointed out that multilateral platforms are under strain due to deepening rivalries and economic coercion. In this context, he called for reformed multilateralism that promotes equity and trust.
India stressed the importance of connectivity with Central Asia, but reiterated that such projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all SCO member states — a veiled reference to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan-administered territories.
On Afghanistan, Singh reaffirmed India’s long-standing developmental role, saying, “India remains Afghanistan’s largest regional development partner and will continue to support its people with humanitarian and capacity-building efforts.”
Vision for Regional Peace: SAGAR and MAHASAGAR
Reinforcing India’s commitment to shared regional growth, Singh outlined India’s strategic doctrines of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). He explained that India’s approach to security is grounded in inclusivity and cooperation.
