At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, India declined to endorse a joint statement, citing a lack of acknowledgment of its concerns regarding terrorism. According to the Indian foreign ministry, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal indicated that India's insistence for the mention of terrorist threats was "not acceptable to one particular country". Although he did not specify further, Indian media reports suggest that India objected to the statement's failure to reference the Pahalgam attack, a horrifying event in April where 26 tourists were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir.
India Walks Away from SCO Summit Joint Statement Over Terrorism Concerns
India Walks Away from SCO Summit Joint Statement Over Terrorism Concerns
India's refusal stems from concerns about the omission of a significant terrorist attack in Kashmir that has created tensions with Pakistan.
India's grievances point notably towards its accusations against Pakistan for harboring a militant group involved in the attack, a claim Pakistan has vehemently dismissed. The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations to counter Western influence, now includes India and Pakistan as members since 2017. The defense ministers' meeting in China precedes the group's annual summit set for the fall.
Reports described how India interpreted the joint statement as leaning towards Pakistan’s position after it highlighted militant actions in Balochistan, while ignoring the Pahalgam incident. Citing historical animosities, India and Pakistan have endured three wars over Kashmir, a region both nations claim but administer in parts.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took this opportunity to insist on accountability for cross-border terrorism in his comments, suggesting that some countries exploit terrorism as a policy tool. He called for a united front within the SCO to condemn such nations, without naming Pakistan directly.
The recent escalation in tensions, particularly due to the Pahalgam attack, has risked reigniting conflict between the two countries. Following that incident, India launched targeted airstrikes it claimed were against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, to which Pakistan responded with missile strikes into Indian territory. This cycle of hostility continued until a ceasefire was brokered by the US in May, although India has consistently rejected claims of US intervention in these affairs.
Reports described how India interpreted the joint statement as leaning towards Pakistan’s position after it highlighted militant actions in Balochistan, while ignoring the Pahalgam incident. Citing historical animosities, India and Pakistan have endured three wars over Kashmir, a region both nations claim but administer in parts.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took this opportunity to insist on accountability for cross-border terrorism in his comments, suggesting that some countries exploit terrorism as a policy tool. He called for a united front within the SCO to condemn such nations, without naming Pakistan directly.
The recent escalation in tensions, particularly due to the Pahalgam attack, has risked reigniting conflict between the two countries. Following that incident, India launched targeted airstrikes it claimed were against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, to which Pakistan responded with missile strikes into Indian territory. This cycle of hostility continued until a ceasefire was brokered by the US in May, although India has consistently rejected claims of US intervention in these affairs.
