Rajnath Singh refuses to sign SCO document as Pak-China dilute terror stand

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) document that would have diluted India’s stand on terrorism and the Pahalgam terror attack, sources said. Due to divergence on the issue of terrorism, the SCO decided not to issue a joint statement.

Sources said China and its “all-weather friend” Pakistan tried to divert the attention from terrorism in the SCO document, but Singh firmly stood his ground on India’s stand on terrorism.

The SCO Summit, held in Qingdao, China, saw the Indian and Pakistani defence ministers come face-to-face for the first time since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The chill was evident as no pleasantries were exchanged with the Pakistani Defence Minister at the meeting, sources said.

The summit brought together defence leaders from the organisation’s ten member states, including China, Russia, Pakistan, and India.