Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday claimed that India faced diplomatic isolation during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting after its Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s request to respond to Pakistan was denied by the Chinese chair.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Mr Asif said that during the high-level summit, he apprised all member states about India’s alleged interference in Pakistan, including its role in Balochistan, and presented documented evidence.
He said that the dossier included the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the attack on the Jaffer Express, and “India’s subversive activities inside Pakistan.”
Following his speech, Khawaja claimed, the Indian delegation sought additional time to respond, but the request was turned down by the Chinese Defence Minister who was presiding over the meeting. “India's request was rejected. It was a significant moment. India stood alone,” he remarked.
The defence minister said that the meeting’s joint declaration mentioned both Kashmir and Balochistan, and eight of the nine member states agreed on the text — with India being the sole dissenter. Due to India’s refusal to sign, he added, the declaration could not be formally issued.
“This is a diplomatic self-defeat for India,” Mr Asif said. “No country supported its stance. Our position was clear and received a positive response from several quarters.”
The minister further claimed that India “resisted” efforts to include regional disputes in the statement, especially those linked to Kashmir and Balochistan, but its objections failed to gain traction.
He also made reference to “Operation Sindoor,” cryptically stating that “India's vermilion has been wiped out,” while asserting that Pakistan has “fulfilled its responsibility in exposing India.”
When asked about regional tensions, Mr Asif said Pakistan’s relations with India will remain strained until core issues are resolved according to UN Security Council resolutions. “Relations with India cannot normalize unless there is progress on key matters,” he stated.
On the issue of Iran, the defence minister said Islamabad was closely monitoring the situation and would comment once more clarity emerged. “The issue is not fully resolved yet. We will respond when the actual position becomes clearer,” he added.
He also described Pakistan’s ties with the United States as “stable” and “not deteriorating,” rejecting speculation of a diplomatic downturn.
