India Rejects SCO Joint Statement

India rejects the SCO joint statement – this powerful decision echoed globally after India’s Defence Minister refused to sign the final declaration at the SCO 2025 Summit in Qingdao, China. 

The refusal came after the Pahalgam terror attack was deliberately excluded from the statement, even though it mentioned the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan.

This move highlights India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and its readiness to take an independent foreign policy stand, even in major multilateral forums.

Why in the News?

In June 2025, India rejects the SCO joint statement at the SCO defence ministers’ meeting, objecting to the omission of the Pahalgam terror attack. This decision marks a critical shift in India’s SCO stance, reinforcing its call for non-selective counter-terrorism efforts.

About the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• Established: 2001 (originally Shanghai Five in 1996)

• Headquarters: Beijing (Secretariat), Tashkent (RATS – Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure)

• Members (as of 2025): India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Belarus

• Core focus: Counter-terrorism, economic cooperation, regional security

India Rejects SCO Joint Statement – Key Highlights

1. India rejects the SCO joint statement due to a lack of reference to the Pahalgam terror attack.

2. India’s Defence Minister strongly opposed the selective mention of terrorist incidents.

3. This move sends a firm diplomatic message that terrorism cannot be compartmentalized.

4. The SCO 2025 summit marked India’s first ministerial visit to China post the 2020 border standoff, adding geopolitical importance.

5. India emphasized that “Peace and terrorism cannot coexist”.

India’s Strategic Thinking

• India rejects the SCO joint statement to protest the failure to address real terror threats.

• The act reaffirms India’s strategic autonomy at the SCO summit and elsewhere.

• India faced diplomatic pressure from China and Pakistan, yet held its ground.

• The India-China conflict at the SCO defence ministers' meeting resurfaced due to the disputed handling of terror-related matters.

Terrorism and SCO: A Divided Platform?

While SCO includes counter-terrorism as a top priority, actions often fall short:

• The RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) has prevented over 20 attacks (2011–2015) and aided arrests of extremist groups.

• Still, India believes that the SCO’s failure to address the Pahalgam terror attack shows a lack of commitment to inclusive security.

Why India Rejected the SCO Joint Statement in 2025?

• India viewed the statement as biased and diplomatically insensitive.

• While it supported Pakistan’s claim, it ignored a major terror incident in India.

• Thus, India rejects the SCO joint statement to call out the hypocrisy in anti-terror collaboration.

Broader Foreign Policy Impact

India continues to follow a multi-alignment strategy:

• Active in SCO, BRICS, Quad, and G20, yet not bound by alliance loyalty.

• Policy: Maximum engagement, minimum entanglement

• India also opposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and BRICS currency basket for similar reasons in 2023.

This shows India’s preference for issue-based diplomacy, as shown again when India rejected the SCO joint statement in 2025.

Impact of India’s Refusal on SCO Credibility

The decision has:

• Exposed divisions within the SCO on counter-terror priorities.

• Put pressure on the SCO to establish a uniform definition of terrorism.

• Created tension regarding India-SCO ties, especially under China’s 2025 chairmanship.

India’s Future Strategy in the SCO

Despite this clash, India will likely:

• Engage selectively in functional areas like RATS.

• Avoid joint declarations that ignore Indian security concerns.

• Continue to show that India rejects the SCO joint statement's style of diplomacy when core interests are compromised.

Final Thoughts

The fact that India rejects the SCO joint statement at the 2025 Defence Ministers' meeting reflects a defining moment in India’s foreign policy approach. 

By prioritizing national security and refusing to endorse a document that ignored the Pahalgam terror attack, India sent a bold message on its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism. 

This principled stand underlines India’s strategic autonomy and refusal to accept selective narratives in global forums. 

As geopolitical dynamics evolve, India’s decision will have long-term implications on SCO’s credibility and the effectiveness of its counter-terrorism agenda. It reaffirms India’s commitment to a consistent and uncompromising stance on terrorism.