Defense Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign a joint statement in a meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers in Kingdao, China on Thursday, 26 June 2025, to sign a joint statement against ignoring India’s concerns on cross-border terrorism. With this move, India underlined strict policy and strategic autonomy against its terrorism.
Singh in the meeting mentioned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April 2025, including 26 innocent people, including a Nepali citizen, was killed. The attack was taken responsibility for this attack by the proxy ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), a terrorist organization nominated by the United Nations. Singh said that some countries give shelter to terrorists by making cross-border terrorism a weapon of policy, and there should be no place for such double parameters.
The statement did not mention the Pahalgam attack, while Balochistan referred to terrorist activities, which India accused of including Pakistan’s pressure. Singh insisted that all forms of terrorism – whatever his inspiration should be, should be considered a crime and its supporters should be held accountable. He also mentioned Operation Sindoor, which was started on 7 May 2025 to destroy the terrorist structure.
No joint statement was issued due to differences with China and Pakistan, which reflects the lack of consent in the SCO. Singh’s move strengthens India’s zero tolerance policy against terrorism.
