India Stands Firm at SCO Summit in Qingdao, Rejects Joint Statement Over Terrorism Concerns

 Qingdao, China, June 29, 2025, 10:49 AM IST – A dramatic turn of events unfolded at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China, as India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a bold statement, rejecting a joint declaration amid pointed remarks on state-sponsored terrorism. The meeting, hosted by China and attended by defence ministers from SCO member states, showcased a rare diplomatic standoff, highlighting India’s unwavering stance on security issues.

Rajnath Singh’s visit marked his first foreign trip since Operation Saindhur and the first ministerial engagement with China since 2020, underscoring its significance. The day began with formalities—Singh was welcomed by his Chinese counterpart, and attendees posed for a group photo—before shifting to substantive discussions. Singh did not mince words, directly addressing the scourge of terrorism. “Peace and prosperity cannot coexist with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups,” he declared. He accused certain countries of using “cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy” and providing shelter to terrorists, urging the SCO to reject such double standards without hesitation.

Though Pakistan was not named, the implication was unmistakable, especially as its defence minister was seated at the same roundtable. The tension escalated when India refused to endorse the joint statement drafted by China, a critical document for any multilateral bloc. New Delhi’s objection stemmed from the omission of the Pulwama terror attack, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistani terrorists in 2019, sparking a subsequent India-Pakistan conflict. In contrast, the draft highlighted the March 2025 hijacking of a Peshawar-bound train by Baloch separatists in Pakistan, which killed 30 of over 300 passengers, and addressed general unrest in Balochistan—issues India deemed selectively framed.

India’s stance was clear: the document’s failure to reflect concerns about terrorism targeting its citizens was unacceptable. “On our side, India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to one particular country, and therefore the statement was not adopted,” a New Delhi official explained. Reports suggest Pakistan’s opposition was the key impediment, leading to the unprecedented collapse of the joint statement at the summit.

The SCO, established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, expanded with India and Pakistan joining in 2017, Iran in 2023, and Belarus in 2024. Spanning the Eurasian region, it aims to promote peace, security, democracy, counterterrorism, and cooperation in trade, law enforcement, and defence. For India, the bloc offers a gateway to Central Asia for trade, energy, and counterterrorism efforts. However, China and Russia view it as a counterweight to Western influence, placing India in a delicate balancing act given its strong ties with the U.S. and Europe. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar encapsulated this position, stating, “India isn’t anti-West, it’s non-West.”

This balancing act was evident last week when the SCO condemned Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites amid the Israel-Iran conflict, but India issued a separate, neutral statement. The Qingdao rejection reinforces India’s resolve to prioritize its security interests, even at the cost of bloc unity. Critics may question the SCO’s value if it cannot address terrorism against India, yet diplomatic wisdom suggests staying engaged. “It’s always better to be inside the room than outside,” analysts note, as India’s exit could cede ground to China, whose influence over other members—reliant on Beijing—might turn the SCO into a Chinese proxy.

With reliable partners like Russia and Iran within the bloc, India must lobby to reshape the SCO into a functional platform. As the summit concluded without a joint statement on this significant Sunday, June 29, 2025, India’s firm stance signals a pivotal moment, testing the organization’s ability to align diverse interests while addressing the region’s pressing security challenges.