Indo-Pak deadlock in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation over Pahalgam, Jaffar attacks

The terror attack in Pahalgam has emerged as a point of contention in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the runup to the summit under the Chinese presidency with India calling for a mention of the April 22 terror strike in one of the documents, following which Pakistan demanded mention of the Jaffar express incident in the same document.

While India has requested that a crucial SCO meeting later this month have references in the outcome statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan is pitching for the inclusion of references to the Jaffar express hijacking and an attack on a bus by Baloch rebels, ET has learnt.

Currently intense negotiations are ongoing to include India's request in the document, according to some persons familiar with the development. If the references on the Pahalgam terror attack are missing from this document, it can cast a shadow on the SCO proceedings.

SCO is the only plurilateral grouping that has a separate body - RATS - which deals with terror threats and therefore India's request to have references on condemning the Pahalgam terror attack is justified, a source explained. The Pahalgam terror attack and Jaffar express incident cannot be compared, a source said, adding that India is unnecessarily being dragged into Pakistan's internal matters.

Union defence minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit China for the SCO Defence Minister meet later this month. It will be immediately followed by the SCO NSA meet.

Last Saturday, India distanced itself from the SCO statement on Iran-Israel hostilities, saying it has already articulated its position on the issue.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar had discussed this matter with his Iranian counterpart on Friday (June 13) and conveyed the deep concern of the international community at the turn of events. He also urged the avoidance of any escalatory steps and an early return to diplomacy.