India refuses to sign SCO joint statement after Pahalgam incident left out

In a significant development, Pakistan secured a diplomatic win after India refused to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting held in Beijing. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly expressed displeasure over the statement.

According to Indian media, the primary reason behind Singh’s refusal was the omission of the Pahalgam incident, which India had hoped to include in the final statement.

Additionally, the declaration’s indirect acknowledgment of RAW-sponsored terrorism in Balochistan reportedly stirred concern in New Delhi.

The meeting brought together defence ministers from SCO member states including China, Russia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, among others.

As per reports, while the Indian delegation attempted to raise objections and demanded revisions to the joint declaration, other member states declined to make any changes. As a result, India opted not to endorse the final document.

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Although Pakistani and Indian defence ministers were present at the table, no bilateral meeting was held between the two sides.

Analysts viewed India’s refusal as another example of unconstructive diplomatic behavior, particularly at a time when global forums like BRICS and SCO are striving to foster peace, regional cooperation, and collective security.

The SCO, founded in 2001, now includes ten member states, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. Its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) remains a key institution for coordinating counterterrorism and security efforts.

This year’s summit, held under China’s presidency, followed the theme, "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move."