Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urges SCO nations to unite against terrorism, cites Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor
NEW DELHI/QINGDAO — In a significant diplomatic development, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China, concluded without a joint statement on Thursday, following a lack of consensus among member countries. India confirmed it refused to endorse the final document due to the absence of a strong reference to terrorism, a point which one member country reportedly opposed.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the meet, stressed on the urgency of confronting terrorism and radicalisation in the region, calling them “the biggest threats to peace and trust.”
Why Was the Joint Statement Blocked?
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that India’s core demand—to include clear language denouncing terrorism and holding its sponsors accountable—was not accepted by one SCO member state. As a result, the joint statement could not be adopted.
"India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to one particular country and therefore the statement was not adopted," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a press briefing on Thursday.
While the MEA did not name the country, diplomatic observers suggest the likely obstruction came from Pakistan, with which India has long-standing disputes over cross-border terrorism.
Rajnath Singh’s Call for Unified Action Against Terror
During his address at the summit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh drew attention to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians including a Nepali national. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a cross-border operation that targeted nine high-value terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“India exercised its right to self-defence,” Singh told the gathering, making it clear that New Delhi will respond with force when provoked.
“Epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe,” he warned, reiterating India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.
Key Points from Rajnath Singh’s Address
- Called for global unity against terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism
- Urged SCO members to reject double standards on terrorism
- Demanded that terror sponsors, financers, and organisers be held accountable
- Highlighted India’s commitment to regional security and sovereignty
- Emphasised the role of multilateral cooperation in ensuring long-term stability in Eurasia
- “We must all be in lockstep in our endeavour to strengthen stability and security in our neighbourhood,” Singh said.
Context: Operation Sindoor and Rising Tensions
India’s tough posture at the Qingdao summit comes just weeks after Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam terror strike. The operation marked a significant escalation in India’s counterterrorism strategy and was widely seen as a message to terror groups operating with cross-border support.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan-based terror outfits of launching attacks on Indian soil and has been pushing for strong international action through multilateral forums like the SCO, UN, and FATF.
Who Attended the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting?
The two-day summit, hosted by China, saw participation from defence ministers of all SCO member states:
- India (Rajnath Singh)
- China
- Russia
- Iran
- Pakistan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
- Belarus (Observer state)
Why This Matters: Implications and Takeaways
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SCO's growing internal fault lines: The failure to adopt a joint statement underscores rising geopolitical divisions within the SCO, particularly between India and Pakistan.
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India’s assertive diplomacy: By refusing to compromise on counterterrorism language, India reaffirmed its global leadership on the issue of combating terror.
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Regional instability risks: The disagreement could hinder the SCO’s broader goal of regional security cooperation, especially as Eurasia faces new challenges in Afghanistan, Central Asia, and beyond.
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Sino-Indian tension undercurrent: Though not publicly mentioned, India’s presence in China for the SCO meet comes amid a delicate diplomatic phase between the two Asian giants after years of border friction.
Conclusion: Terrorism Remains a Red Line for India
India’s firm stance at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting signals that terrorism remains a non-negotiable red line in its multilateral engagements. While the failure to adopt a joint statement may be a diplomatic setback for the grouping, it underlines a growing resolve by New Delhi to ensure that global counterterrorism efforts are not diluted by regional politics or appeasement.
As the region grapples with rising instability and transnational threats, India's position is clear: No compromise on terror—not even in the name of diplomacy.