A principled stand at SCO - India refuses to sign silence

27/06/2025

India’s refusal to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint communique marks a watershed moment in the country's foreign policy-one that underscores moral clarity, national interest, and a resolute stand against terrorism. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's principled decision not to endorse a communique that omits the recent terror attack in Pahalgam sends a powerful message: India will not be complicit in whitewashing terrorism for the sake of forced consensus. The attack in Pahalgam, in which innocent lives were targeted by Pakistan-backed terrorists, cannot be brushed aside in any meaningful dialogue on regional security. That such a heinous act finds no mention in a statement issued by a security-focused bloc like the SCO is not just a diplomatic oversight-it is a moral failure. India's insistence on its inclusion was not a demand for rhetorical solidarity; it was a call for truth and accountability.
Pakistan's attempt to insert a paragraph on unrest in Balochistan-aimed at deflecting attention and drawing false equivalence-was both predictable and disgraceful. The SCO, which operates by consensus, found itself paralysed by this deliberate obfuscation. The result: a communique that could not be signed by India without compromising its core security concerns. What transpired was more than a bureaucratic impasse. It exposed the limits of multilateral platforms when one member continuously exploits the mechanism to shield terrorism and spread propaganda. India's message was clear: there can be no compromise on terrorism. Silence, in such a context, is complicity.
This act of diplomatic defiance must be seen in a broader strategic context. New Delhi is no longer willing to tolerate ambiguity on issues that threaten its sovereignty and security. The refusal to sign the SCO communique mirrors the shift in India's geopolitical posture-one that places national security and principled diplomacy above performative participation. In choosing not to sign the communique, Rajnath Singh did not isolate India; he reinforced its credibility. The world is watching, and India's allies and adversaries alike would do well to understand: New India speaks with conviction, stands its ground, and will no longer play along with diplomatic charades that conceal, rather than confront, terror. Terrorism cannot be negotiated with, nor can it be diplomatically airbrushed. If the world seeks lasting peace, it must first acknowledge the truth-India just ensured that it cannot be ignored.

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