INDIA REFUSES TO SIGN SCO DEFENCE MINISTERS’ STATEMENT

Current Context: On June 26, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, India refused to endorse the joint statement due to omitted terrorism references—primarily the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—blocked by “one particular country”.

ABOUT SCO SITUATION

• Issue: India insisted on acknowledging terrorism (especially Pahalgam attack) in the joint communique. China, Pakistan, and another member opposed this, resulting in a lack of consensus.
• India’s Stand: Emphasized “One Earth, One Family, One Future” civilizational ethos, calling for explicit terrorist references and accountability for state-sponsored support.

About SCO

• A political, economic, security union of 10 Eurasian countries: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and the central Asian states.
• Established in 2001 (originating from the “Shanghai Five” in 1996), expanded to full membership in 2017; Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
• Represents ~42% of the world’s population, ~24% of global landmass, and ~23% of world nominal GDP.