An Imperative Red Line

The global order has entered into an era where multilateral forums are increasingly being used for diplomatic tightrope-walking rather than maintaining moral clarity.

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In these times, India's refusal to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) joint statement has come as a whiff of fresh air. India's posturing at the SCO was bold and, more importantly, necessary. India's Defence Minister's decision to withhold the endorsement of the draft document—as it skipped the mention of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam while erroneously choosing to highlight India's supposed hand in Balochistan unrest—is a slap on the face of rogue elements who think they can pass with their brutal manoeuvrings. The message out there to the world is very clear—India will not allow terror to be sanitised or selectively acknowledged in the name of consensus.