SCO fails to issue joint declaration after India’s objection

India on Thursday refused to endorse the joint communique issued at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, after its attempt to link Pakistan to the recent Pahalgam attack was dismissed by member states.

The high-level meeting was attended by defence ministers from all SCO member countries, including Pakistan, China, and Russia. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif represented Pakistan, marking a rare instance of Pakistani and Indian officials participating together in an SCO event following recent bilateral tensions.

According to reports from Indian media, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh objected to the final draft of the statement for omitting any mention of the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The draft, however, included condemnation of the recent Jaffar Express bombing in Balochistan, which India reportedly viewed as a veiled reference to its alleged role in cross-border terrorism.

Due to India’s refusal, the SCO bloc did not issue a consensus declaration following the meeting.

Analysts view India’s position as a diplomatic setback, as the organisation declined to support New Delhi’s narrative against Pakistan over the Pahalgam incident.

In a separate development, India also distanced itself from another SCO joint statement condemning Israeli airstrikes on Iran. While the bloc collectively denounced the June 13 attacks and reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, India chose not to align with the declaration, citing its independent foreign policy and close strategic ties with Israel.

The SCO, comprising 10 member nations including Russia, China, Pakistan, and India, continues to play a significant role in promoting regional cooperation and security.