Qingdao, China/ Islamabad / New Delhi – June 27 2025: India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the joint communique at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao after being denied another opportunity to speak, according to Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s announcement on Geo News Thursday evening.
Asif noted that Singh requested another speaking turn at the meeting; however, China’s Defense Minister denied this request, prompting India not to endorse the communique and endorse it instead. Asif noted that following such rejection from Chinese officialdom, India refused to endorse its communique for endorsement. Eventually this led Singh withhold his endorsement for it until further consultations took place with allies including US. When faced with these options -withdraw their vote, then withdraw it altogether
Asif, Pakistan’s representative at the conference, had already taken up five speaking slots at the meeting, contributing views ranging from the Jaffar Express bombing and Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case. When India refused its request to sign the joint declaration agreed upon by all participants except New Delhi, “Frustrated with this, India declined signing it”, he noted. (Timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Geo | TV | Thenews | Pk).
But the crisis was more than simply about speaking time: Indian officials had expressed displeasure with a draft statement’s failure to refer to Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, which killed 26 Hindu pilgrims, mostly Indian nationals (see Timesofindia.indiatimes.com +10 for more coverage; Apnews +10 and Indianexpress for additional reporting)
Instead, the statement mentioned militant activity in Balochistan province of Pakistan; prompting India to accuse it of showing double standards (geo.tv, euronews.com and thenews.com.pk all mention this claim).
Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson explained at a press briefing that India had sought strong anti-terror language — such as naming Pahalgam attack — but this “was not acceptable to one particular country”, an indirect reference to Pakistan. For more details see: EconomicTimes.indiatimes.com +13
IndianExpress.com (+13).
Defence Minister Singh issued an explicit warning at the conclave: “Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists, creating double standards.” He did not name Pakistan but gave clear signals against such practices by providing shelter to terror cells within their territories, without specifying Pakistan specifically as one such example of this behavior.
Pakistan’s Asif used this event to criticise India Prime Minister Modi’s administration for isolating itself from international engagement and for pursuing “extremist policies.” Asif accused India of supporting global terrorism through high-profile incidents like the murder of Sikh leader in Canada as well as links with terror attacks in America–claims which were strongly denied by India itself and were widely disproved. By Geo.tv + 1 and Thenewscom + 1, Asif accused Modi’s administration of isolaticism whereas Modi denied such accusations in response,
These competing narratives contributed to an unprecedented breakdown in consensus at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defense Gathering – an essential meeting ahead of its leaders summit scheduled for autumn (See Indianexpress.com for coverage +3, Reuter.com +3 and Tribune +3)
Analysts note India’s refusal to sign is evidence of its resolve not to appear soft on terrorism, particularly given recent cross-border escalations including Operation Sindoor which was launched as retaliation for Pahalgam attack and is underway until further notice (sources include Reuter’s, Economic Times and Indian Express).
India and Pakistan remain at odds over how best to maintain autonomy within multilateral forums without China or Pakistan imposing their agenda through narratives that undermine India’s autonomy, The standoff highlights India’s efforts at maintaining autonomy by remaining autonomous from status quo narratives tilted by either side, according to news.com.pk
Pakistan seems determined to use both speaking rights and media appearances to shape regional discussions – portraying itself as an advocate of multilateralism and balanced multilateralism.
Tianjin will serve as a critical litmus test of whether tensions around terrorism, bilateral blame and procedural grievances can be channeled into productive regional security cooperation or deepened existing divisions.