India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, today emphatically stated that any outcome document from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that does not explicitly condemn terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism, is unacceptable to India. This strong declaration comes in the wake of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s refusal to sign a joint communique at the recent SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, due to the omission of India’s concerns regarding terrorism.
Jaishankar underscored that the fundamental purpose of the SCO, a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization, is to combat terrorism. Therefore, for any member country to object to a clear reference to terrorism in an official document directly undermines the very essence of the organization. While not explicitly naming Pakistan, Jaishankar’s remarks were widely understood as an oblique reference to Islamabad’s objections to including such a clause.
Sources indicate that the draft communique at the Defence Ministers’ meeting, chaired by China, failed to mention the recent Pahalgam terror attack in India, which claimed 26 lives. Instead, it reportedly included references to militant activities in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a move seen by India as an attempt by Pakistan to deflect blame and push its own narrative. India has consistently maintained that the Pahalgam attack was an act of cross-border terrorism, implicating Pakistan-backed elements.
Jaishankar fully endorsed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s decision to withhold India’s signature, emphasizing that “without that reference, when the main purpose of the organization is to fight terrorism, and you are not allowing a reference to that, he was not prepared to accept it.” He further highlighted that the SCO operates on the principle of unanimity, meaning any single member’s objection can prevent the adoption of a joint statement.
India’s unwavering stance on terrorism has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy, particularly in regional and international forums. New Delhi has consistently advocated for a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and has called for holding accountable the “perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors” of such acts, including those involved in cross-border terrorism. Rajnath Singh, in his address at the SCO meeting, had also strongly criticized nations that use cross-border terrorism as a state policy and provide shelter to terrorists, urging SCO members to reject double standards.
This latest development at the SCO meeting underscores the persistent challenge of achieving consensus on the issue of terrorism within multilateral bodies, especially when certain member states have divergent interests and histories concerning the issue. India’s clear message is that its commitment to countering terrorism will not be diluted, and it will not endorse any document that fails to address this critical global threat unequivocally.