India Rejects Joint Defense Statement at Key China-Led Summit

India declined to back a joint statement at the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization meet, marking a rare public rift within the security bloc and highlighting unresolved tensions following its near-war with Pakistan last month.

“On our side, India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document which was not acceptable to one particular country,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday, without naming any nation.