YMAM Desk
New Delhi, June 26, 2025:
India has refused to sign a joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China.
Quoting official sources, PBSHABD stated that India is dissatisfied with the language of the joint document, which made no mention of cross-border terrorist activities.
It is believed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's refusal to endorse the document resulted in the conclave ending without a joint communique.
As per the SCO Charter, the grouping takes decisions by agreement without a vote, and they are considered to be adopted if no member state raises objections.
Rajnath Singh Calls for United Global Action Against Terrorism
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for united global action against terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism, citing them as the biggest threats to regional peace and trust.
Addressing the Ministers' meeting today, Mr. Singh said peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism.
Referring to the heinous Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national, Mr. Singh said India exercised its right to self-defence through Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure. He asserted that the epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and India will not hesitate to target them.
Double Standards on Terrorism Must End, Says India
The Defence Minister urged SCO nations to reject double standards and hold terror sponsors accountable. Mr. Singh stated that some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists.
He emphasized that there should be no place for such double standards and SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations. Those who sponsor, nurture, and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences, he asserted.
Importance of SCO in the Geopolitical Landscape
Highlighting SCO’s crucial role in the current uncertain geopolitical scenario, the Defence Minister noted that the member countries contribute around 30% of the global GDP and house about 40% of the world’s population.
Mr. Singh described the creation of a safe, secure, and stable region as a collective responsibility that can contribute to progress and improvement in people’s lives.
Addressing New-Age Security Threats
Highlighting the challenges posed by the changing dynamics of transnational terrorism, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare, Mr. Singh pointed to the need for countering technologies used by terrorists, including drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs.
Call for Reforming Multilateralism
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also advocated for reforming multilateralism to build cooperation and foster dialogue and collaboration among nations to prevent conflict.
He stressed that no country can manage alone and that multilateralism assumes nations must work together for mutual and collective benefit. Mr. Singh also congratulated Belarus on joining the SCO family as a new member.
About the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an intergovernmental body established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017. Current SCO members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus, and India.
China holds the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.”