New Delhi, June 23 — National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is scheduled to travel to China this week to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, a visit that comes amid heightened regional tensions and carries significant diplomatic weight for India.
According to senior government sources, Doval’s presence at the summit in Qingdao from June 25 to 27 is part of a calibrated strategy to address cross-border terrorism, with a particular focus on the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. India is expected to use the platform to call out Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism and to gauge Beijing’s stance on regional security—especially in light of its close ties with Islamabad.
Counterterrorism at the Forefront
A key item on India’s agenda at the SCO summit is the issue of counterterrorism. Doval is expected to confront Pakistan over its continued support for groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), following the Pahalgam incident that left several Indian security personnel dead.
India will push for specific references to Pakistan-based terror outfits in the summit’s joint declaration. However, sources caution that such language may be watered down due to resistance from China and Pakistan, both of which have historically shielded each other within multilateral frameworks.
While China has signalled interest in resetting bilateral ties with India—including the potential resumption of direct flights—it remains unlikely to take a firm position on terrorism, largely due to its strategic partnership with Pakistan. Officials believe China may offer symbolic support to anti-terror language without endorsing any substantive shift in policy.
Complex Diplomatic Terrain
Adding to the complexity is Iran’s position. Tehran has publicly supported India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, but it also maintains strategic relations with both Beijing and Islamabad. Further complicating matters, Pakistan recently condemned U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convening a high-level meeting of the country’s National Security Committee to discuss the fallout.
India, meanwhile, continues to pursue strategic interests such as the development of the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), seen as alternatives to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). New Delhi has already rejected Iran’s offer to mediate on Kashmir, signalling a firm stance on its territorial sovereignty.
Institutional Push Through RATS
Indian officials have indicated that another priority will be to strengthen the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). New Delhi is expected to advocate for institutional mechanisms that can more effectively target state-sponsored terrorism and enhance regional security cooperation.
Defence Diplomacy in Motion
In a parallel development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also likely to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ Conclave in Qingdao—the first visit to China by a senior Indian minister since bilateral relations sharply deteriorated following the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Preparations are underway for a potential bilateral meeting between Singh and his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the conclave. Analysts view the meeting as a cautious step towards restoring high-level defence dialogue between the two Asian powers.
Russia, a key member of the SCO and a close strategic partner of both India and China, is expected to quietly support India’s position on counterterrorism, given the robust defence and energy cooperation currently underpinning Indo-Russian ties.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.