SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting was held in Qingdao, where notable attendees included Defence Minister from India, Chinese Defence Minister, and Russia’s Defence Minister.

India's Stance on Terrorism

• India declined to endorse the joint statement due to concerns over the mention of militant activities that overlooked the Pahalgam attack.
• India pushed for tougher language on terrorism to reflect its position, especially after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
• The Pahalgam attack was carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, resulting in 26 civilian casualties.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction cannot coexist with peace and prosperity.
• He urged for action against countries that sponsor terrorism and advocated for no double standards.
• Operation Sindoor 2025 was launched by India to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.

Meeting Outcomes

• The SCO Defence Ministers' meeting concluded without a joint statement due to lack of consensus on terrorism-related language.
• India's advocacy for including terrorism concerns in the document was objected to by one country.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Defence Ministers from Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus on the meeting's sidelines.

Key Quotes from India

• "Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups."
• "It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences."
• "Epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them."
• "SCO should not hesitate to criticise nations that use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy."