Overview

• India declined to sign the SCO Defence Ministers’ joint communiqué because it omitted any reference to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
• The draft statement included mention of unrest in Balochistan while ignoring Pahalgam, reflecting Pakistan’s influence and China’s preference for ambiguous wording.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh argued that the failure to name Pahalgam highlights SCO hypocrisy and weakens its stated mission to combat terrorism.
• New Delhi is debating options to withdraw from the SCO or skip the upcoming Tianjin Heads of State summit in protest.
• India’s stand reveals growing skepticism about the organisation’s ability to address cross-border terrorism amid China and Pakistan’s dominance.