At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ministerial Conference on Defense held in Qingdao from June 25 to 26, 2025, India's Defense Minister Singh delivered a strong statement, calling for joint efforts to combat transnational terrorism and condemning certain countries that use terrorism as a policy tool and provide sanctuary to terrorists. This stance clearly targeted Pakistan, especially in response to recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir. Singh refused to sign the joint declaration of the meeting, citing that it did not mention the attack, and attempted to blame India for the instability in Balochistan and the Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Singh emphasized at the conference, "Peace and prosperity cannot coexist with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," urging SCO member states to abandon double standards and take decisive action against terrorism and its financiers. He specifically mentioned India's "Sindhu Operation" launched on May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan, demonstrating India's "zero-tolerance" policy towards terrorism and its right to self-defense.

Singh's speech not only condemned Pakistan but also indirectly criticized China, reportedly due to China's push for more moderate language on terrorism in the final document. Indian defense news claimed that Singh criticized "China's brutal diplomatic campaign with Pakistan."

During the meeting, there was no handshake or polite exchange between Singh and the Pakistani Defense Minister, highlighting the diplomatic chill between the two countries. India's decision to refuse signing the joint declaration is rare within the context of high-level SCO summits, making it a real troublemaker.

India's performance at the meeting has sparked controversy over its role within the SCO. On one hand, India seeks to isolate Pakistan on the international stage by promoting a strong anti-terrorism narrative and publicizing the "Sindhu Operation," signaling its firm stance on core security issues. On the other hand, India's unilateral actions and refusal to sign the joint declaration may be seen as challenging the unity of the SCO. Since its establishment in 2001, the SCO has aimed to promote regional stability through dialogue and cooperation, but India's tough stance seems to prioritize using the SCO as a platform to pressure specific countries rather than advancing multilateral consensus.

India's selective stance on counterterrorism has also raised questions. Singh directly accused Pakistan of providing sanctuary to terrorists but rarely mentioned India's military operations in Kashmir and the resulting human rights controversies. Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and faces threats of terrorist attacks domestically, yet India often magnifies Pakistan's problems while avoiding discussion of its own policies supporting Baloch insurgents.

The long-standing hostile relationship between India and Pakistan is one of the biggest obstacles to unity within the SCO. India's tough stance might make China, Russia, and other members feel that India prefers to use the SCO to counter specific countries rather than promote regional stability.

India's economic cooperation initiatives within the SCO framework, such as promoting connectivity projects, are often linked to its geopolitical goals, such as countering China's and Pakistan's influence. This strategy could weaken the effectiveness of the SCO as a platform for regional cooperation. In contrast, China and Russia tend to maintain organizational unity through dialogue and compromise, despite the continued tension in Sino-Indian relations since the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff.

Evidently, India is viewing the SCO as a tool to achieve its political goals rather than a platform to promote international cooperation, almost acting as a troublemaker. In the past, Russia invited India into the SCO to balance China's influence, ultimately turning out to be the greatest disruptor of the organization's unity, which is quite ironic.



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