India on Saturday formally distanced itself from a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) statement that condemned Israel’s recent military strikes on Iranian territory, clarifying that it did not participate in discussions that led to the release of the strongly worded declaration.
The SCO, an alliance comprising India, China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations, had collectively denounced Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, which targeted sites in Iran on Friday. The bloc described the strikes as “aggressive actions” against civilian infrastructure and accused Israel of violating international law and infringing on Iran’s sovereignty.
“The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation express serious concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and strongly condemn the military strikes carried out by Israel on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the SCO statement read. It also warned of the serious risks the conflict posed to regional and global peace.
However, India swiftly issued a statement, clarifying its position and emphasizing that it had not endorsed or been part of the SCO’s deliberations on the matter.
“India’s position on this issue was clearly articulated on June 13, 2025, and remains unchanged,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. “We urge all sides to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to achieve de-escalation. It is essential that the international community support efforts in this direction.”
The MEA further revealed that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had spoken individually with both his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Friday, expressing India’s deep concern over the unfolding situation. “EAM Jaishankar conveyed the concern of the international community and emphasized the need to avoid further escalation and to return to diplomatic engagement,” the ministry stated.
The Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed that it had communicated its independent stance to other SCO member states and opted out of discussions related to the bloc’s joint statement. “Keeping that in mind, India did not participate in the discussions on the above-mentioned SCO statement,” the MEA concluded.
Our Statement on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/bvBnmlSMX9 pic.twitter.com/ZHqCyHFvHs
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 14, 2025
