India at SCO: No compromise on terror, rejects declaration over Pahalgam row

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to counter terrorism to ensure mutual trust and stability, a stance that has become India’s clarion call since terror attack on Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.By CNBCTV18.com June 26, 2025, 9:39:55 PM IST (Published)1 / 7Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took part in SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China alongside ministers from IKazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. The minister emphasised the need to counter terrorism and the need to hold those who sponsor and finance acts of terrorism accountable. (Image: Defence Minister of India/X)2 / 7He refused to sign the SCO joint declaration due to working issues and attempts to remove Pahalgam terror attack. “It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” Singh said while addressing the gathering. (Image: PTI)3 / 7Singh also convened a meeting with the Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and discussed boosting India-Russia defence ties. (Image: Defence Minister of India/X)4 / 7Rajnath Singh gifted Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov a sculptor of Nataraja which is symbolic of Shiva as the lord of dance and dramatic arts.5 / 7Singh met with the Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao. (Image: Defence Minister of India/X)6 / 7Ahead of the defence ministers’ meeting, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. The two reviewed developments in India-China bilateral ties and Doval asserted the need to counter terrorism in all its forms for regional peace and stability. (Image: Embassy of India in Beijing/X)7 / 7Doval also met with Aleksandr Venediktov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation on Tuesday, June 24 (Image: Embassy of India in Beijing/X)Continue Reading

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