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Key Points

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar publicly criticized an SCO member nation—widely understood to be Pakistan—for blocking terror-related discussions at the summit. The diplomatic clash led Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to reject the joint statement over its failure to address the Pahalgam terror attack. Jaishankar emphasized that selective condemnation of terrorism undermines the SCO's core purpose of combating extremism. The incident highlights growing tensions within the bloc as India pushes for stronger anti-terror commitments.

Key Points: Jaishankar Exposes Pakistan Blocking Terror References at SCO Summit

  • Jaishankar slams unnamed nation for blocking terror references at SCO
  • Rajnath Singh refused to sign joint statement over Pahalgam omission
  • India demands unified action against all forms of terrorism
  • SCO rift deepens over selective condemnation of terror attacks
2 min read

One country wanted no reference to terror: EAM Jaishankar on India's firm stand at SCO summit

India takes firm stand as Jaishankar calls out SCO member for obstructing terror discussions, forcing Rajnath Singh to reject joint statement.

One country wanted no reference to terror: EAM Jaishankar on India's firm stand at SCO summit
"One country objected to the mention of terrorism and we all know which country it is - EAM Jaishankar"

New Delhi, June 27

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday stressed that the core objective of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is to combat terrorism and that all member nations must reflect this shared goal in both words and actions.

Addressing an event in the national capital, Jaishankar underlined India’s consistent position that terrorism must not be justified, glorified, or shielded under any pretext — a message that resonated with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s refusal to endorse a joint statement at the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting on Thursday.

Without mentioning Pakistan, the EAM said, “The SCO was created with purpose of fighting terrorism. If any country participating on this platform selectively blocks references to terror incidents or avoids calling out terrorism, then it defeats the very purpose of the organisation,” Jaishankar said, without naming Pakistan.

The remarks came in the backdrop of the SCO Defence Minister meeting in China on Thursday, where Rajnath Singh refused to sign the joint declaration document, citing its failure to address terrorism-related concerns, specifically the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people - mostly tourists, including one Nepal national.

“Our position is very clear,” Jaishankar said. “One country objected to the mention of terrorism and we all know which country it is. That is why our Defence Minister did not endorse the statement. If fighting terrorism is our common goal, then we must call out every act and every place affected.”

India has consistently pushed for greater cooperation within SCO on security matters but has often found itself at odds with countries that differentiate between “good” and “bad” terrorism.

The refusal to acknowledge Pahalgam terror attack has further exposed these fault lines within the bloc.

Besides India, the SCO member countries are Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. India became a member of the SCO in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023.

-sas/mr

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally our government is taking a strong stand! Terrorism has no place in civilized society. Why should we compromise when innocent lives are lost? Proud of Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh for standing firm. 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
It's disappointing that even at international forums, some countries continue to play politics with terrorism. The Pahalgam attack was brutal - how can anyone justify not mentioning it? India's position is absolutely correct.
A
Arjun S.
While I support our stand, I wonder if SCO is really effective. China and Pakistan have their own agenda. Maybe India should focus more on QUAD and other alliances that share our values.
S
Sunita R.
The double standards are shocking! Same countries that cry about human rights elsewhere refuse to even acknowledge terrorism when it suits them. India must continue exposing this hypocrisy on global platforms.
V
Vikram J.
Good move by India, but we need more than just statements. Our foreign policy should translate into concrete actions that make it costly for countries supporting terrorism. Economic and diplomatic pressure must increase.
N
Neha P.
The families of Pahalgam victims deserve justice. By refusing to sign that document, India has shown it won't let their suffering be erased from history. More power to our leaders! 🙏
K
Karan D.
While I appreciate our strong stand, I hope we're also working behind the scenes to build alliances within SCO. Russia and Central Asian countries could be potential partners in isolating the terrorism supporters.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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