New Delhi, June 27 -- At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting held in Qingdao, China, on June 25-26, 2025, India declined to endorse the joint statement after member states failed to reach a consensus on key issues - notably, India's insistence on including strong language condemning terrorism. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that one member country objected to this demand, leading to the non-adoption of the document.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, representing India at the meeting, used the forum to call for united action against terrorism, which he identified as the greatest threat to peace, trust, and stability in the region. Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers, SCO Secretary Genera...