Defense Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting held in Qingdao, China. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was also present from the other side. This was the first instance post the Pahalgam terrorist attack that both countries’ defense ministers were on the same platform, yet no conversation occurred between Rajnath Singh and Khawaja Asif.
Isolation of Khawaja Asif
In the meeting hall, India and Pakistan's defense ministers entered separately and joined the group photo session with other member countries. However, there was no exchange of pleasantries between Rajnath Singh and Khawaja Asif. Even a formal greeting was absent. China's host defense minister, Dong Jun, welcomed Rajnath Singh inside the meeting hall, and during this time, Rajnath also met with Russia's Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. The defense minister also held bilateral talks with Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin, discussing enhanced defense and security cooperation.
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Across the hall, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif appeared isolated, seen standing alone with his delegation. There was no predetermined meeting between the Indian and Pakistani defense ministers, yet the tension between the two leaders was evident during the summit. This stemmed from the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the subsequent military response by India under Operation Sindoor. Due to the ongoing tensions, India has halted diplomatic talks with Pakistan. Even the longstanding Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan has been suspended by India.
Source: aajtak
Rajnath’s Sharp Attack on Pakistan
During the summit, Defense Minister Rajnath strongly condemned Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. He not only cited the Pahalgam attack but explicitly named the Pakistani connection of TRF, responsible for it. Rajnath Singh highlighted the success of Operation Sindoor and warned of similar actions against terrorism in the future.
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At the summit, Rajnath Singh exposed Pakistan’s scheming and also refused to sign the SCO joint draft where Pakistan wanted to mention Balochistan in the terrorism context. Furthermore, China and Pakistan were unwilling to include references to the Pahalgam attack. India's firm stance led to no joint statement or resolution being presented after the meeting as India remains strongly committed to combating terrorism.
Pakistan was attempting to blame external forces for the rebellion in Balochistan, citing it in the draft, which India thwarted. Historically, Pakistan accuses India of destabilizing Balochistan, while in reality, the Pakistani government's oppressive policies have led the common populace to demand freedom.
