SCO refuses to toe India's line
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Kazakhstan's Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov, Kyrgyzstan's Defence Minister Ruslan Mukambetov, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov applaud following a group photo, before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao, Shandong province, China June 26, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Listen to article
Defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) were unable to adopt a joint statement at their meeting in Qingdao, China, after India reportedly refused to sign the document, claiming it was pro-Pakistan for not referencing the April attack on Indian tourists.
The SCO is a 10-member Eurasian security and political bloc comprising China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran and several Central Asian states. The defence ministers' meeting was held ahead of the annual leaders' summit scheduled for later this year.
Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif led Pakistan's delegation at the meeting, where he reaffirmed the country's commitment to regional stability, collective security and counterterrorism cooperation.
In his address, the minister condemned Israel's recent military actions against Iran and the continuing violence in Gaza while calling for peaceful resolutions to long-standing global disputes, including Kashmir and Palestine.
Read More: SCO brings Pakistan, India defence ministers together
Underscoring the SCO's importance as a platform for dialogue, mutual trust and regional cooperation, Mr Asif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and the SCO Charter, describing them as essential to promoting global peace, good neighbourly relations and multilateral collaboration.
He further condemned the recent terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), urging the international community to hold accountable those who finance and support such acts. He also referred to the Jaffar Express bombing in Balochistan as another example of cross-border terrorism undermining regional peace.
Highlighting unresolved conflicts as serious threats to global stability, Mr Asif stressed the need for peaceful resolution of issues like Kashmir and Palestine through diplomacy, mediation and sustained dialogue.
However, the meeting reportedly faced a setback when India declined to endorse the final statement, arguing it favoured Pakistan's stance. The Indian delegation objected to the omission of any reference to the April 22 attack on Hindu pilgrims in IIOJK, in which 26 people were killed.
India blamed Pakistan for the incident, a charge Islamabad firmly rejected. The attack led to some of the most intense cross-border exchanges in years, after India claimed to have targeted 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan denied the accusation, stating that the sites targeted were civilian in nature and had no links to terrorism.
Also Read: Rajnath to attend SCO summit in China
Citing anonymous sources, the Foreign News Agency reported that Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh believed the draft communiqué 'diluted India's position on critical issues such as terrorism and regional security.'
Singh reportedly said the joint statement 'suited Pakistan's narrative' because it omitted the April attack but included mention of terrorist activity in Balochistan — a region where Pakistan has long accused India of supporting separatist elements, allegations that New Delhi denies.
"Certain members, member countries, could not reach consensus on certain issues and hence the document could not be finalised on our side," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a weekly media briefing.
"India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to one particular country and therefore the statement was not adopted," he said, without naming the country.
The Qingdao meeting marked the first time senior ministers from India and Pakistan shared a stage since their military standoff in May.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Rubio tells PM: US seeks Pakistan's help for ME peace
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday received a telephone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said that during their warm and cordial conversation, the Prime Minister appreciated President Trump's bold and decisive leadership that led to the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. He also thanked Secretary Rubio for the key role played by the US in the Pakistan-India ceasefire. PM Shehbaz speaks with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio The Prime Minister and Secretary Rubio agreed to continue working closely to strengthen Pakistan-US relations particularly through enhanced trade. While exchanging views on the current situation in the Middle East, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role for bringing peace to the Middle East.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Asif calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif strongly condemned Israel's unconstitutional and unprovoked attacks on Iran, and urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as he addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting held in China. Calling terrorism a global challenge, the minister emphasised that it must not be exploited for political purposes. 'Terrorism affects all societies and must be confronted collectively, without being politicised,' he said. He reiterated Pakistan's unwavering condemnation of all forms of terrorism and stressed the need for accountability of not only the perpetrators but also their financiers and protectors. Turning attention to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, Asif expressed deep concern over the Israeli brutality in the Middle East and called on the international community to act urgently. 'Attacks on Palestinians must stop, and a ceasefire must be enforced immediately,' he stressed. Threat of wider war in ME is real: Asif The defence minister also highlighted long-standing unresolved disputes such as Palestine and Kashmir as persistent threats to global peace and security. He advocated for dialogue, mediation, and diplomacy as the only viable path towards resolving these crises and urged the global community to play an active role in ending these conflicts. Addressing fellow SCO members, Asif reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional peace, stability, and cooperation, and assured that Islamabad would continue to uphold the United Nations Charter, the SCO principles, and international law. He also underlined that peace in Afghanistan remains crucial for regional stability and SCO's vision. In a significant development during the SCO meeting, India found itself diplomatically isolated, as member states refused to support its attempt to link the Pahalgam incident to Pakistan, according to credible diplomatic sources. India's efforts to include the Pahalgam episode in the joint communiqué were unsuccessful, with no other SCO member endorsing New Delhi's stance. As a result, India reportedly declined to sign the joint declaration, sources revealed. Diplomats observed that India appeared completely isolated, particularly as all SCO member countries condemned Israeli aggression against Iran, while India maintained a divergent position, further alienating itself from the collective stance. Analysts say the final joint statement clearly reflected India's diplomatic isolation within the regional bloc, highlighting a growing disconnect between New Delhi and other member nations on key international issues. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
NSA debunks Ajit Doval's allegations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt Gen Asim Malik silenced India's national security adviser Ajit Doval with his well-argued observations as they came face to face at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) meeting of NSAs in Beijing, China. During his speech, Doval referred to Operation Sindoor as an action against terrorists, and levelled baseless allegations against Pakistan. However, Lt Gen Malik, in a well-reasoned and forceful speech, debunked Doval's narrative as a 'bundle of lies'. Lt Gen Malik said India has become accustomed to blaming others for its internal problems and failures.
