India Rejects SCO Defence Communiqué Over “Terrorism” Omission
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has strongly defended Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s decision to withhold support for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ joint communiqué, citing the deliberate omission of any reference to terrorism. The refusal came after one member state—implicitly understood to be Pakistan—blocked the inclusion of language condemning terrorism and referencing the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
Speaking after the SCO summit held in Qingdao, Jaishankar asserted that any outcome document from the SCO must include an unambiguous stand on terrorism, given that counterterrorism is one of the group’s foundational objectives. He stated that a communiqué lacking such mention would be meaningless for India, and that consensus could not be allowed to water down core principles. Since the SCO functions on the basis of unanimity, India could not support a text that failed to address the key concern of terrorism.
Jaishankar’s remarks reaffirmed India’s longstanding position of zero tolerance toward terrorism and its expectation that regional platforms reflect that commitment without compromise. He made it clear that the Indian delegation’s move to withhold support was a principled stand, not a procedural disagreement.
In a pointed political contrast, Jaishankar recalled the internal divisions India had faced during the Emergency era, referencing how journalists and institutions were stifled under authoritarian rule. He commended the current unity across political lines when it comes to foreign policy and national security, noting that opposition leaders have actively participated in international delegations, presenting a united front.
SCO terrorism
India’s insistence on including references to terrorism in SCO declarations aligns with its broader diplomatic efforts to hold states accountable for cross-border terror. The exclusion of such language from the recent draft was deemed unacceptable by New Delhi, prompting a rare refusal to sign a consensus document.
Jaishankar Pakistan
Though unnamed, the member state obstructing the inclusion of terrorism references is widely understood to be Pakistan. Jaishankar signaled that such obstructionism undermines the credibility of the SCO and weakens the very foundation on which the group was established.
SCO defence
By backing Rajnath Singh’s refusal to endorse the communiqué, Jaishankar reinforced India’s view that defence cooperation among SCO members must be underpinned by a shared and clear commitment to combating terrorism. Anything less, he suggested, would be a betrayal of the platform’s stated goals.
