US EditionWhy Did Rajnath Singh Refuse to Sign SCO Joint Statement? MEA Reveals ‘One Particular Country…’
INDIA, JUN 26 – India's Defence Minister refused to sign the SCO joint statement due to omission of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, highlighting regional security tensions.
- On June 26, 2025, during the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chose not to endorse the joint communique, citing ongoing concerns about terrorism and regional security.
- This refusal followed disagreement over the document's omission of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists and its mention of militant activities in Balochistan, leading India to label the statement as pro-Pakistan.
- Singh recalled the attack attributed to Lashkar-e-Taiba's proxy, The Resistance Front, condemned terrorism used as a state policy tool, and urged SCO members to reject double standards and act collectively against terrorism.
- He emphasized that the SCO must hold all member countries accountable without bias and should openly address any involvement in supporting terrorism, reflecting India's call for greater responsibility and transparency within the organization.
- India's non-endorsement highlights its dissatisfaction with the SCO's approach to cross-border terrorism and underscores ongoing regional tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Why did Rajnath Singh refuse to sign SCO joint statement? MEA reveals ‘one particular country…’
At the SCO meeting, India refused to endorse a joint declaration, citing the exclusion of terrorism concerns. During a press briefing, the MEA spokesperson revealed why Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took such a decision.
Rajnath Singh's Defiant Stand at SCO: A Call to Combat Terrorism
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the SCO to take decisive action against terrorism, highlighting cross-border threats and urging unity. India refrained from endorsing a joint communique, citing inadequate acknowledgment of its concerns. Singh emphasized peace and prosperity cannot coexist with terrorism, calling for unequivocal condemnation and proactive measures.
Denver Gazette
The Straits TimesIndia says defence gathering in China unable to adopt joint statement
NEW DELHI/BEIJING (Reuters) -Defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in China were unable to adopt a joint statement at the end of their talks due to a lack of consensus on referring to "terrorism", the Indian foreign…
Rajnath Singh refuses to sign SCO joint statement for not focusing on challenge of cross-border terrorism
In his address, the Defence minister said there should be 'no double standards' in combating terrorism and urged the SCO member nations to condemn the menace with unity
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