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.