India’s Stand at the SCO: Why Rajnath Singh Refused to Sign the Joint Statement
- TPP
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 27
At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, a significant diplomatic development unfolded when Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the joint statement. This decision was not made lightly and reflected India’s consistent and assertive stand on counter-terrorism, a critical regional and global issue.
What is the SCO?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a major regional bloc comprising 10 member countries: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. It originated from the Shanghai Five—formed in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan—primarily to manage post-Soviet regional tensions, including religious extremism and ethnic conflicts. The SCO was formally established on June 15, 2001, and has since evolved into the world’s largest regional organisation by both geographical area and population. It primarily focuses on security cooperation, with structures like the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) facilitating intelligence sharing and anti-terror efforts.
What Happened at the SCO Meeting in 2025?
During the two-day defence ministers’ meeting chaired by China, no joint declaration was adopted—an unusual outcome for such summits. India refused to endorse the final draft of the statement due to the omission of references to terrorism, especially the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, in which innocent tourists were killed in Jammu & Kashmir.
Instead, the draft included references to the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, Pakistan, which India found imbalanced and unacceptable. In videos that emerged, Rajnath Singh can be seen placing his pen aside and refusing to sign, marking a strong diplomatic signal.
Why Did India Refuse?
During a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal explained that India’s insistence on incorporating strong language on terrorism was blocked by “one particular country”—a veiled reference to Pakistan. As a result, the necessary consensus among SCO members could not be reached, and the statement was dropped.
India's primary concern was the exclusion of the Pahalgam terror attack, where the victims were targeted based on their religious identity. The Resistance Front, a proxy of the UN-designated terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had claimed responsibility. In contrast, the draft’s inclusion of Pakistan-specific incidents, while ignoring attacks on Indian soil, indicated a selective and biased approach, which India strongly opposed.
Rajnath Singh’s Speech and India’s Firm Stance
In his address, Rajnath Singh sharply criticised double standards on terrorism, clearly alluding to Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism without naming it directly. He stated:
“There should be no double standards on terrorism. Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism.”
He further emphasised the need to hold “perpetrators, organisers, financers, and sponsors” of terrorism accountable, particularly those using it as an instrument of state policy. This was an indirect reference to Pakistan’s well-documented history of supporting non-state militant groups targeting India.
Singh also brought up Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory action in response to the Pahalgam attack, reinforcing India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
Broader Concerns: Terrorism and WMDs
In addition to cross-border terrorism, Rajnath Singh raised alarm about the risk of terrorists acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). WMDs refer to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons, capable of causing mass casualties. Singh warned:
“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of WMDs in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups.”
This underscores India's broader national security doctrine, which prioritises decisive international cooperation to eliminate terrorist networks and prevent catastrophic threats.
The Diplomatic Context: China's Influence and Pakistan’s Role
This year’s SCO meeting was hosted by China, which currently holds the SCO chairmanship. With Russia’s international focus diverted due to the Ukraine war, China’s influence within the SCO has expanded significantly. Notably, China remains a staunch ally of Pakistan and has historically used its clout to shield Islamabad in international forums.
The reference to the Balochistan incident (where India is accused by Pakistan of inciting separatist unrest) and the simultaneous omission of Indian security concerns, reveals Beijing’s potential partiality in crafting the draft statement. By refusing to sign, India challenged this imbalance, demonstrating that consensus cannot come at the cost of principle.
Related Story : India Refuses to Sign SCO Joint Statement
Significance of Rajnath Singh’s Action
Rajnath Singh’s decision to withhold signature from the joint statement marks a major diplomatic assertion. Traditionally, the SCO has been a forum where Russia and China set the agenda, but India’s firm position sends a message that New Delhi will not compromise on core national security interests, even within China-dominated multilateral forums.
This move reflects India’s evolving foreign policy doctrine, which combines pragmatism with principle, particularly on counter-terrorism. India has consistently maintained that “terrorism and business as usual cannot go together”, and this episode reinforces that commitment on the global stage.
What Happens Next?
The SCO’s Council of Heads of State is scheduled to meet in Tianjin this autumn (2025). It remains to be seen whether the issues raised by India—particularly the demand for a united front on terrorism—will be taken seriously or sidelined again under China-Pakistan influence.
Until then, India has made its position unmistakably clear: national security, accountability for terrorism, and balanced multilateral diplomacy will continue to guide its international engagements.
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