Duplicity on terror: Communique exposes China-centric SCO

OPERATION Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, left no room for doubt about India’s firm stand on terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Still, the world in general needed to be convinced about something that was as clear as daylight. Hence, multi-party delegations fanned out across the globe to drive home India’s message about the nefarious designs of Pakistan and its close allies. The job is far from done, going by the glaring omission of the Pahalgam horror from the draft communique of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ conclave. It’s obvious that host China, a premier founder-member of the SCO and Pakistan’s all-weather friend, piloted this machination. India, represented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, emphatically expressed its displeasure by refusing to sign the communique.

It is significant that Rajnath, speaking on Chinese soil, asserted that there should be no place for double standards on cross-border terrorism. He stated that the SCO, a prominent forum that also includes Pakistan, Russia and Iran, should not hesitate from criticising nations which used terrorism as an instrument of state policy. However, the China-centric organisation has exposed itself by not paying heed to his words. Ironically, the SCO charter includes the lofty goal of strengthening mutual trust, friendship and good neighbourliness between the member states. The unwillingness of China and some other nations to call a spade a spade has vindicated India’s stand on their duplicity.

Rajnath’s tough talk comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the G7 Summit that those who supported terrorism should never be rewarded; he also wondered how perpetrators of terror and its victims could be equated. That was a stern message to the US, which heaped praise on Pakistan for its role in “counter-terror” efforts and rolled out the red carpet for its Army Chief. The challenge for New Delhi is to remain steadfast in its campaign against Pakistan — despite all the diplomatic setbacks.

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