India Refuses to Sign Joint Statement at SCO Summit Over Kashmir Concerns
India's foreign ministry stated that the country's concerns on terrorism were not adequately reflected in the joint statement.
India has refused to sign a joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China due to its concerns regarding terrorism not being sufficiently addressed.
According to India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the refusal was based on the fact that India's concerns were 'not acceptable to one particular country.' The omission of the Pahalgam attack from the statement, a deadly militant attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, is believed to be the primary reason for India's stance.
India has accused Pakistan of harboring a militant group responsible for the attack, a claim which Pakistan denies.
The SCO, formed by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries in 2001, aims to counteract Western influence in the region.
India and Pakistan joined the organization in 2017.
The latest signing ceremony occurred during an SCO defense ministers' meeting ahead of the leaders' annual summit this autumn.
India perceived the joint statement as being pro-Pakistan due to its mention of militant activities in Balochistan, which Pakistan accuses India of supporting.
Following the meeting, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the need for accountability from the SCO regarding cross-border terrorism.
He did not explicitly name Pakistan but criticized countries that use terrorism as a policy tool and provide shelter to terrorists.
The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer partially, have led to several conflicts.
In April, the Pahalgam attack brought the two nuclear-armed nations close to another war.
In response to the airstrikes targeting 'terror infrastructure' in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Pakistan responded with missile strikes and drone incursions into Indian territory.
The escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan continued until a ceasefire was brokered by US President Donald Trump on May 10th, when both countries agreed to a 'full and immediate ceasefire'.
Despite this agreement, India maintains that it did not require any intervention from the United States.
This ongoing tension highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.
According to India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the refusal was based on the fact that India's concerns were 'not acceptable to one particular country.' The omission of the Pahalgam attack from the statement, a deadly militant attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, is believed to be the primary reason for India's stance.
India has accused Pakistan of harboring a militant group responsible for the attack, a claim which Pakistan denies.
The SCO, formed by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries in 2001, aims to counteract Western influence in the region.
India and Pakistan joined the organization in 2017.
The latest signing ceremony occurred during an SCO defense ministers' meeting ahead of the leaders' annual summit this autumn.
India perceived the joint statement as being pro-Pakistan due to its mention of militant activities in Balochistan, which Pakistan accuses India of supporting.
Following the meeting, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the need for accountability from the SCO regarding cross-border terrorism.
He did not explicitly name Pakistan but criticized countries that use terrorism as a policy tool and provide shelter to terrorists.
The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer partially, have led to several conflicts.
In April, the Pahalgam attack brought the two nuclear-armed nations close to another war.
In response to the airstrikes targeting 'terror infrastructure' in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Pakistan responded with missile strikes and drone incursions into Indian territory.
The escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan continued until a ceasefire was brokered by US President Donald Trump on May 10th, when both countries agreed to a 'full and immediate ceasefire'.
Despite this agreement, India maintains that it did not require any intervention from the United States.
This ongoing tension highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.
