SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting and India's Stance on Terrorism

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a firm stand against terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting, held in China. His refusal to sign a joint communique was a significant move, highlighting India's demand for a united front against terrorism.

Key Highlights

• Refusal to Sign Communique: India, represented by Rajnath Singh, refused to endorse the SCO's joint communique due to the absence of a mention of the Pahalgam terror attack.
• Contention Points: India sought acknowledgment of the Pahalgam attack, while Pakistan insisted on including the Jaffar express incident. This disagreement led to the lack of a joint statement.
• Stand Against Terrorism: India emphasized that peace and prosperity cannot coexist with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• Call for Action: India called for decisive action against terrorism, stating that nations that support and utilize terrorism for their purposes must face consequences.
• Operation Sindoor: India exercised its right to self-defense with Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling cross-border terror infrastructures.
• Accountability: India stated that perpetrators and supporters of terror acts, including cross-border elements, should be held accountable and face justice.
• Pattern of Attack: India pointed to the Pahalgam attack as being executed by a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terror group.