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India refuses to sign SCO joint statement lacking Pahalgam attack but featuring Balochistan unrest

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 26 Jun 2025, 06:42 am

Qingdao : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has refused to sign the joint statement at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting as the document did not mention the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack but carried Balochistan unrest.

The document mentioned the Balochistan unrest obliquely accusing India of causing the situation prevailing in the Pakistani region despite New Delhi's repeated rejection of its involvement.

"India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document. There was no mention of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, there was mention of the incidents that happened in Pakistan, so India refused to sign the joint declaration, and there is no joint communique either," NDTV reported quoting a Defence Ministry source.

At the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao, Singh called for united global action against terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism, citing them as the biggest threats to regional peace and trust.

"Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and by whom-so-ever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally," said Singh.

"We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross border terrorism accountable and bring them to justice."

Referring to the heinous Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians including a Nepali national, he said India exercised its right to self-defence through Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure.

He urged SCO nations to reject double standards and hold terror sponsors accountable.

"Epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe," he declared, reaffirming India’s zero-tolerance policy.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has appealed to the SCO members to shun double standards when it comes to terrorism.

In a retaliation against the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor hitting nine terrorist bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The military conflict escalated after Pakistan targeted civilians across the borders without any provocation to be aptly countered by the Indian military.