Rajnath Singh Urges Action on Terror at SCO Ministers Meet in China

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called upon the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to take decisive action against the menace of cross-border terrorism. The SCO Defence Minister meeting was held in the Chinese city of Qingdao, on 25 and 26 June 2025. 

It was attended by the defence ministers of the 10 member countries of the SCO.

An Indian Defence Minister visited China for the first time after the clash between the two countries military in Galwan, Ladakh, in June 2020. 

India Refuses to Sign the Joint Declaration 

India refused to sign the joint declaration that was to be issued at the end of the Defence Minister’s SCO  meeting. 

The joint declaration statement skipped any mention of the Pahalagam terror attack in Kashmir on 22 April 2025, but referred to militant activities in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Pakistan accuses India of backing Baloch freedom fighters.

The joint declaration was not issued after India’s strong objection.

This was not the first time that India opposed China’s agenda at the SCO. India, which hosted the 2023 SCO Summit, refused to entertain China’s attempt to include its Belt and Road Initiative in the summit declaration.

Highlights of Rajnath Singh's Speech 

• He said that peace and development cannot coexist with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. 
• Indirectly referring to Pakistan, he said that countries that sponsor and utilise terror as state policy must bear the consequences of their action.
• He referred to Operation Sindoor and said that India has the right to strike at terrorist infrastructure across the border in case of cross-border terrorism.
• He said that SCO should criticise those countries that use terrorism as a state policy and should adopt double standards on the issue.

Rajnath Singh's Other Engagement in China

• In China, Rajnath Singh also met the Chinese Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun and discussed measures to improve communication between the two militaries.
• He also met the Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and discussed ways to strengthen India-Russia military ties.

About the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Established in 2001 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India joined the group in 2017.

SCO is an intergovernmental organisation that replaced the Shanghai Five group.

Official languages of the SCO: Russian and Chinese.

Members (10)- India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Belarus.

Belarus is the 10th country to join the SCO.

Observer - Mongolia (Afghanistan observer status has been suspended since 2021, when the Taliban took over the country.)

Headquarters- Beijing, China

Current Chairman (2025)- China