India's Stance on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Joint Statement

India recently refused to sign the SCO joint statement, highlighting a significant gap between the forum's stated commitment to combatting terrorism and its leniency towards Pakistan-sponsored extremism targeting India. 

Key Events and Issues

• 2025 SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting: Held in Qingdao, China, the meeting omitted references to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam from the joint statement. 
  • India's Defence Minister, demanded the inclusion of the Pahalgam attack as a symbol of regional terrorism threats.
  • Pakistan blocked this proposal.
• Inclusion of Balochistan: The statement mentioned militant activities in Balochistan, skewing the narrative in Pakistan's favor. 

Strategic Implications for India

• Multilateral Dynamics: The incident underscores the limitations of relying on multilateral forums like the SCO to combat terrorism. 
  • The SCO is increasingly influenced by China, which acts to protect its ally, Pakistan.
  • Russia is unlikely to counterbalance due to its strategic dependence on China.
• Regional Relations: India needs to reassess its approach to regional diplomacy. 
  • Pakistan remains a strategic challenge despite its weakened economic state.
  • Bangladesh's alignment with China and Pakistan since the change of government can discomfort Delhi.

Recommendations for India

• Revive Diplomatic Channels: Improve communication with Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
• Adjust Engagement with Bangladesh: Avoid condescending approaches and foster better relations.
• Address Internal Religious Polarisation: Ensure domestic politics do not create strategic traps.

The episode serves as a reminder for India to not overestimate multilateral forums like the SCO and to carefully manage its relationships with neighboring countries amidst shifting regional dynamics.