While addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tashkent, in 2022, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called upon SCO to unitedly fight against terrorism and to overcome the menace in all its forms.
In 2025, he walked the talk when he refused to sign on a joint agreement after he saw that the statement had exclusively excluded the recent Phelgam terrorist attacks resulting in the death of 26 Indian nationals and one Nepal national.
SCO founded in 2001, has grown to become a prominent multilateral platforms in Eurasia. The organisation comprises of key regional powers such as China, Russia, India, and Pakistan SCO strives to achieve to mutual trust among the member nations, ensure regional security, and promote economic cooperation. The SCO adheres to the “Shanghai Spirit” namely, mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilisation and pursuit of common development. Since India became a full member of SCO in 2017, it has been vociferously advocating against terrorism. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, India ranked fourteen in a list of 100 countries affected by terrorism. At least 25 South African countries and 5 out of 8 South Asian Countries are severely affected by terrorism, therefore, since India became a full member in 2017, it has vociferously used the platform to advocate against terrorism, a threat that continues to destabilise the South Asian region. India’s evolving engagement, particularly between 2022 and 2025, reveals a shift from rhetorical diplomacy to assertive action in demanding accountability from members that either sponsor or turn a blind eye to terrorism.
India’s Stance on Terrorism in the SCO
Terrorism is a global threat, that extends beyond security concerns, it encompasses of various dimensions like economic, social, and developmental. Developing countries, in particular are often faced with multifaceted challenges in combating terrorism and mitigating its adverse effects on their societies and economies, it poses threat to the stability and development of developing countries.
While addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tashkent, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, emphasised that terrorism must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations. His remarks signalled towards India’s growing frustration with the selective condemnation of terrorism within the institution.
Rajnath Singh’s speech specifically called upon SCO members to “unite in fighting terrorism“. He highlighted the need for enhancing joint counterterrorism mechanisms and curbing terror financing, noting that the SCO’s credibility would suffer if it failed to take concrete action on the issue. In the recent SCO- Defence Ministers’ Meeting he refused to sign on a joint statement because of repetition of selective condemnation of terrorism. Phlegam Terrorist attack was not mentioned in the statement.
The Phelgam Terrorist Attack and India’s Diplomatic Stand in 2025
On 22 April, 2025, The Resistant Front (TRF) an off-shoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) carried put terrorist attacks resulting in death of 26 Indian national and one Nepalese Citizen. In 2008, the parent body of TRF, LeT had carried out mass terrorist attack in Mumbai.
When the SCO- Defence Ministers’ Meeting convened in less than two months of Phlegam attack, the incident was not recorded in the draft joint statement, which led to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s refusal in signing the statement, stating that selective silence on terrorism is equivalent to complicity. In the past, China had also vetoed against the proposal to blacklist Sajid Mir as global terrorist in the United Nation Security Council.
Rajnath Singh’s refusal to sign the draft joint statement marks India’s diplomatic posture. It became a significant moment in India’s multilateral engagement, as it showed a willingness to challenge consensus in an important multilateral forum.
India has not only effectively disrupted SCO’s narrative of unity it also exposed organisation’s contradictions and biases on terrorism. India’s firm stance on terrorism at the SCO Defence ministers meeting has influenced G20 members as well to condemn the 22 April Phelgam terrorist attack. India’s stance will make SCO-RATS effective again.
SCO-RATS and India’s Operational Contribution
Apart from taking a firm stand against terrorism at SCO Defence Ministers Meet, India has often operationalised its commitment through engagement with Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
In 2022, India hosted the “Manesar Anti-Terror” joint military exercise under the SCO-RATS framework. Six member countries of the SCO, RATS, including the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russian Federation and the Indian NSG mutually shared their drills, procedures, best practices and other innovative methodologies to build capabilities and capacity to fight the menace of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The exercise showcased India’s capability and readiness to lead the organisation in terms of counter-terrorism. By offering technical expertise, operational platforms, and doctrinal frameworks, India seeks to reorient RATS into a credible counterterrorism tool.
Terrorism and the Regional Geopolitical Context
India has been a victim of terrorist activities in the past as well. Since 2010 to 2022 at least 3406 and 2108 security forces have lost their lives to terrorist activities.
At least 5 countries out of 8 countries in South Asia has been severely affected by terrorist activities. Despite repeated international warnings, at two biggest terrorist outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and TRF have continued to operate from Pakistan; therefore due to India’s geographical proximity with Pakistan it is imperative for India to take firm stand on terrorism.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, India ranked 14th among the 100 most terrorism-affected nations, indicating both the magnitude of threat and the success of India’s partial containment efforts. The report attributes this ranking to frequent cross-border attacks, homegrown insurgencies, and evolving terrorist tactics, which require robust and adaptive countermeasures.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, however having countries that do not adhere to the rules could significantly question the organisation’s standing.
Article 1 has a clear emphasis on strengthening and consolidating cooperation in countering terrorism, separatism and extremism in all their manifestations.
Article 2 of the SCO charter mentions that no country should seek any ‘unilateral military superiority in adjacent areas’. This gives a very strong impetus to the efficacy of the organisation as it implies that any strategic mistrust between the member countries might lead to the disintegration of the origination. India’s engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was measured a measured one as Pakistan also joined SCO in the same year as India, SCO also gave India Pakistan a platform to mend their relationship. However, when other member countries blatantly show biases and lack of moral clarity when it comes to eradication of terrorism, it raises many questions about the functionality and the ethos of the organisation.
Such lack of clarity could also render the functioning of an organisation of highest potential. India’s firm stance against biased representation of terrorism provides an opportunity to interrogate the narrative with balanced scrutiny and reinforcing the founding ethos of the organisation.
Article by Sheetal Sahoo