Overview

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the draft communiqué, causing the two-day meeting in Qingdao to conclude without consensus.
• Singh accused states of using cross-border terrorism as a policy tool, implicitly targeting Pakistan’s sheltering of extremist groups.
• The Pahalgam terror attack claimed by The Resistance Front and linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba was omitted from the draft, prompting India’s objections.
• India highlighted Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure, as proof of its zero-tolerance policy.
• Singh urged SCO members to unite decisively against terrorism and radicalisation to safeguard regional stability.