Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a firm stand at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Qingdao, refusing to sign a joint document that downplayed terrorism and ignored the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Sources revealed that China and Pakistan attempted to steer the summit’s focus away from cross-border terrorism, skipping any mention of the April 22 attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, including tourists. The omission, coupled with a reference to unrest in Balochistan, was seen as an indirect attempt to target India, prompting Singh’s decision to withhold endorsement.

In a powerful address during the summit, Singh criticized the practice of using terrorism as a political tool, indirectly targeting Pakistan without naming it. He urged the SCO to adopt a consistent and uncompromising stance against terrorism and denounced “double standards” by member nations. Highlighting the Pahalgam incident, which bore similarities to previous Lashkar-e-Taiba operations, Singh reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance approach and called for decisive global action. The Resistance Front, a LeT affiliate, had claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, but Pakistan, with China’s support, reportedly managed to exclude TRF’s name from a recent UN Security Council statement.

Tensions were palpable as Singh and Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif avoided pleasantries, marking the first encounter since India’s Operation Sindoor, where Indian forces dismantled terror camps across the border. Singh defended the operation as a legitimate act of self-defence, aimed at preventing future attacks. The divergence over terrorism led to the SCO skipping a joint declaration altogether, underscoring the widening rift between India and China-Pakistan on counter-terrorism cooperation. The summit, attended by ten member states including Russia, showcased India’s uncompromising position on terrorism and its growing frustration with what it perceives as selective silence by neighbouring nations.