June 26, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China
Why India Refused
India, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, declined to sign the final draft of the joint statement/communiqué. The refusal came because the document omitted any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Indian‑administered Kashmir—an attack that killed 26, mostly Hindu, tourists—which India holds Pakistan responsible for.
The draft, however, included references to terrorist incidents in Pakistan’s Balochistan, perceived by India as “double standards”
Official Statements
- Rajnath Singh stated the omission “diluted India’s position on terrorism” and called for “no place for double standards”, urging the SCO to hold those who sponsor cross‑border terrorism accountable
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India pushed to include strong counter‑terror language, but this was blocked by “one particular country”, leading to the statement’s abandonment
The Moment
As the meeting wound down, during the usual signing ceremony for the joint communique, India withheld its signature. That refusal was delivered publicly at a press briefing in Qingdao on June 26, marking the moment the declaration collapsed
This marks a notable setback for China’s vision for SCO unity, highlighting how terrorism remains a deeply sensitive and divisive issue within the grouping—especially between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is always involved with terror activities across the World.
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