SCO Summit: Indian Defence Minister refuses to sign joint declaration over omission of Pahalgam incident

Islamabad: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint declaration after it omitted reference to the Pahalgam incident, which India had sought to highlight.

According to sources, the declaration not only rejected Indian claims, but also held India responsible for fomenting unrest in Balochistan. It further condemned the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express in Pakistan.

Following the release of the declaration, the Indian minister appeared visibly displeased and declined to endorse the document—an outcome seen as a significant diplomatic win for Pakistan on the international stage.