India has declined to sign a joint communique at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, citing the document’s failure to address its concerns over terrorism. According to a report from the BBC, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the statement did not reflect the country’s security priorities, particularly in relation to the recent militant attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Omission Sparks Diplomatic Snub
The SCO, formed in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations to counterbalance Western influence, held its defence ministers’ meeting in China ahead of its leaders’ summit this autumn. India and Pakistan joined the organisation in 2017, but tensions between the two neighbours have often complicated consensus within the group.
This year’s joint statement became a point of contention for India, reportedly due to the omission of the Pahalgam attack that occurred in April. The assault, which killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, was blamed on Pakistan-based militants by New Delhi. The Indian side, citing the absence of any reference to the incident in the final text, saw the document as “pro-Pakistan”, especially as it mentioned militant activity in Balochistan, where Pakistan accuses India of supporting separatist groups, an allegation India denies.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted on Thursday that India’s proposed language on terrorism was “not acceptable to one particular country,” though he stopped short of naming it. Media speculation has strongly pointed towards Pakistan as the country in question.
A Pattern of Cross-Border Hostilities
India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, used the platform to issue a veiled critique of Pakistan, stating, “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. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations.”
Although Singh did not explicitly name Pakistan, the context was clear. The Pahalgam attack pushed the two nuclear-armed neighbours closer to conflict, with India retaliating in May through what it called precision airstrikes on “terror infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Islamabad, in turn, denied these claims and responded by launching missile and drone strikes into Indian territory.
Tensions only began to ease following an intervention reportedly brokered by the United States. On May 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that both India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire.” However, New Delhi has consistently denied any third-party mediation in the matter.
Strategic Gaps Within the SCO
India’s refusal to endorse the joint SCO statement underscores growing unease within the bloc. Despite efforts to maintain regional solidarity, fault lines between India and Pakistan continue to pose challenges to consensus-building. India’s stance may also reflect a broader discomfort with what it perceives as China and Russia’s ambivalence toward cross-border terrorism, especially when it impacts Indian interests.
As the SCO prepares for its leaders’ summit later this year, observers will be watching closely to see if the group can reconcile these deep-rooted disputes or if the organisation’s utility as a regional forum will continue to erode.
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