India faced a diplomatic setback at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, after failing to rally support against Pakistan. The two-day summit, attended by key regional powers including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and India, ended without the adoption of a joint communiqué due to India’s refusal to sign it.
According to diplomatic sources, India objected to the draft statement for referencing terrorist incidents in Pakistan, especially Balochistan, while omitting mention of the recent Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. All other member states endorsed the document, leaving India as the lone dissenter, prompting the host nation to forgo issuing a final communiqué.
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Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh argued that the statement echoed Pakistan’s stance and urged the SCO to denounce countries that support cross-border terrorism. However, he avoided naming Pakistan directly and reiterated general calls for accountability and global cooperation against terrorism.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded sharply, condemning the Pahalgam attack while highlighting that it took place in a disputed territory. He called for accountability in incidents like the Jaffar Express bombing in Balochistan and emphasized that unresolved conflicts, particularly Kashmir, threaten regional peace and should not be ignored.
The incident has sparked criticism within India, with former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha declaring the episode a diplomatic failure and calling for Prime Minister Modi’s resignation. Analysts say India’s inability to present compelling evidence and its attempt to politicise the platform led to its diplomatic isolation.
