India right not to sign SCO document

The failure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to issue a joint communiqué at a meeting of the defence ministers of member countries in Qingdao in China shows the fault lines within the 10-member grouping. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the joint declaration because it did not reflect India’s strong position on terror. He expressed his displeasure over the SCO’s position and asserted that there should be no place for double standards on cross-border terrorism. The joint  communiqué did not make any mention of the Pahalgam attack in which India was a victim, but it sought to mention “disturbances in Balochistan”, at the behest of Pakistan. Rajnath Singh said that the SCO, a prominent regional forum which seeks to promote border security and combat terrorism, should not hesitate from criticising nations which used terrorism as an instrument of state policy. 

China and Russia are prominent members of SCO, which also has as its members countries from Central Asia, in addition to India and Pakistan. It has four observer states and nine dialogue partners from the extended region. It is not wrong to assume that Pakistan, through its ‘’all-weather friend’’ China, sought to influence the content and wording of the communiqué. Rajnath Singh did not mention any name but it was clear which country he mentioned when he said the declaration contained no reference to terrorism at the behest of “one nation.” SCO was formed as a counterpoint to the powerful blocs forged by the West and it has to address the common issues and reflect the common concerns of all member countries. It would be wrong if it is dominated by one country or the other or is influenced by one member country. The SCO foreign ministers’ meeting and its summit are to be held later this year and it will be watched whether they will take note of India’s concerns. 

It should be noted that the disagreement over the communiqué at the SCO also marked a failure on India’s part to convey its message on terror to the international community. After Operation Sindoor, India had sent all-party delegations to 32 countries to draw their attention to terrorism in the context of the Pahalgam attack and also to explain India’s response to it. But no such team was sent to a SCO member country. India also distanced itself from an SCO statement which condemned Israel’s attack on Iran, which is a member country. There are differences and conflicting interests and perspectives within SCO, as in the wider world community. That is precisely the reason why India should engage with them more effectively.