Qingdao/New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday refused to sign a joint communique of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) following the omission of the Pahalgam terror attack and not explicitly addressing India’s concerns over Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism.
At a conference of SCO defence ministers’ conclave, Singh demanded inclusion of the terror attack in the communique while the Pakistani side pressed for having a paragraph on militant activities in Balochistan in an apparent attempt to blame New Delhi, top sources said.
The SCO operates under the framework of consensus and Pakistan’s approach resulted in the conclave ending without the joint communique, they said.
The draft communique neither featured the Pahalgam terror attack nor reflected India’s position on cross-border terrorism, and it would have diluted New Delhi’s position on a critical issue, they said.
In his address at the conclave, Singh took a swipe at Pakistan for backing terrorist groups, as he called for holding accountable the “perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors” of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism.
Highlighting India’s Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam strike, the defence minister, who arrived here on Wednesday, said “epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them.”
“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. The SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” he said.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun were among those who attended the conclave.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the SCO member nations could not reach a consensus on certain issues and hence the document could not be finalised.
“India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document which was not acceptable to one particular country. As such the joint statement was not adopted,” he said at his weekly media briefing.
In his remarks at the conclave in the Chinese port city of Qingdao, the defence minister laid down the broad contours of India’s “transitional shift” in its policy against terrorism and urged the SCO member nations to unite in combating and shun “double standards”.
“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups,” Singh said.
“Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action. It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences,” he said.
Singh also said that the pattern of the Pahalgam terror attack matched with Lashkar-e-Taiba’s previous terror attacks in India.
The defence minister said India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, and exercised its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross-border attacks.
“During the Pahalgam terror attack, victims were shot after they were profiled on religious identity. The Resistance Front, a proxy of UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack,” he said.
“The pattern of Pahalgam attack matches with LeT’s previous terror attacks in India. India’s zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated through its actions,” he said.
“It includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them,” he said.
Singh said SCO members must condemn terrorism unequivocally as he reaffirmed India’s resolve to fight the menace in all its forms.
The defence minister also called for proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among the youth.
“The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on ‘Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism’ issued during India’s chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment,” he stated.
Singh stressed that the world faces an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare.
These threats, he said, do not respect national boundaries, and demand a unified response rooted in transparency, mutual trust, and collaboration.
Singh underscored the importance of countering the technology used by terrorists including drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, pointing out that traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats in this interconnected world.
The defence minister also noted that India has been consistent and steadfast in its policy in support of peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.
On SCO’s crucial role in the current uncertain geopolitical scenario, Singh said the member countries contribute around 30 per cent of the global GDP and about 40 per cent of the world’s population resides in them.
He described the creation of a safe, secure and stable region as a collective stake, which can contribute towards progress and improvement of peoples’ lives.
The defence minister voiced India’s commitment to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. “Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also fosters mutual trust.”
“However, in these efforts, it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states.”
