During the current Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, India stood with the other member nations in putting firm condemnation of Israel and the United States' June military attacks on Iran. The attacks consisted of targeted Israeli assaults on Iranian military bases and killings of senior Iranian military personnel and nuclear scientists, together with precision-conducted US missions with B-2 bombers against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Interestingly, India had declined to sign an identical SCO statement following the June attacks, a sign of its expanding strategic relationship with Israel then. Analysts now see India's inclusion in the present condemnation as a sign that it is ready to project an independent foreign policy profile in multilateral settings.
Observers are interpreting India's stance at the SCO as a clear indication to the United States and Israel in light of increasing tensions with Washington after the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Indian exports. Analysts argue that India's support for the statement is proof of its ability to diverge from the expectations of the United States on global forums while still keeping diplomatic equilibrium.
"Such a statement is an indication of India's subtle policy of international diplomacy," opined an expert in foreign policy. "While remaining in good books with Israel and the US, India is demonstrating that it will articulate its own stands when the occasion arises."
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The joint SCO declaration also touched upon international terrorism, with specific condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The member states sent their condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized holding the perpetrators and those supporting them accountable. Collective commitment to counteracting terrorism, separatism, and extremism was reaffirmed in the statement with recognition of each state's efforts and the competent authorities involved.
India's strong position on both the Iran attacks and Pahalgam incident is being seen as a diplomatic triumph, especially in Pakistan's presence. It reinforces India's position in regional security talks and emphasizes its positive engagement in defining global counterterror steps.
By accompanying the denunciation of the June attacks, India has quietly shown that its foreign policy choices are becoming more strategic and autonomous, walking a tightrope between bilateral relations while speaking up on key issues on the world stage.
