Article Title: Pahalgam excluded - India declines to sign SCO statement
27-06-2025
International Relations Current Affairs Analysis
Context
• India declined to endorse the joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in China, and pushed for including tougher language on terrorism that would reflect the Indian position, particularly since the Pahalgam attack on April 22.
• Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the document on Thursday as it did not mention the Pahalgam attack but included militant activities in Balochistan.
• Pakistan and China were trying to divert attention from terrorism, and the document would have diluted India’s position on critical issues, particularly terrorism and regional security, sources added.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
• It emerged as a successor to the Shanghai Five, which was established in 1996 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
• These countries, along with Uzbekistan, came together on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai to announce the formation of a new organization aimed at deepening political and economic cooperation.
• Over time, the organization expanded its membership to include eight states, with India and Pakistan joining on 9 June 2017.
• Iran officially became a member in 2023.
• Belarus became a member in 2024
• The SCO is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), which serves as its highest decision-making body and convenes once a year.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has 10 members, including China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Belarus.
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