The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) forum revealed clear contradictions in India’s stance on terrorism and regional stability, exposing the complex relationship between its rhetoric and actions. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged China and other SCO members to adhere strictly to the organization’s anti-terror, anti-separatist, and anti-extremism charter. However, this call clashes with persistent accusations against India for supporting proxy conflicts, creating unrest in neighboring regions, and aligning closely with Western military blocs, actions that explicitly contradict the spirit of the SCO’s principles. India presents itself as an advocate for multipolarity and regional stability. However, its refusal to sign the SCO joint statement on counter-terrorism, due to the exclusion of the Pahalgam terror attack and inappropriate references to insurgency in Balochistan, exposed deep divisions and diplomatic hypocrisy within the organization. Jaishankar reinforced India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, implicitly accusing China and Pakistan of protecting terror proxies that destabilize the region, citing troubling evidence of Chinese-made military hardware being used in terrorist attacks in Kashmir. However, India’s record damages its moral standing.
Proxy Conflicts, Bloc Politics, and Regional Instability
Many analysts and critics accuse India of secretly supporting militant groups and conducting proxy wars to influence neighboring countries’ politics and security. This approach conflicts with SCO’s core charter against terrorism and separatism. India’s alignment with the Global North, especially US-led military alliances, worsens regional tensions by promoting bloc politics rather than the inclusive, multipolar world order it claims to support. The political agenda promoted by key figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has intensified domestic and regional divisions, isolating India morally and diplomatically. Their policies emphasize nationalist and often divisive rhetoric, promoting skepticism among neighbors and triggering instability, especially in Kashmir and border states. Meanwhile, China has adopted a patient, long-term strategy, investing heavily in research, development, and economic partnerships that strengthen its regional influence while projecting stability, in contrast to India’s perceived strategic arrogance that creates insecurity in the subcontinent.
The Credibility Gap and Future Challenges
While India condemns separatism and terrorism in forums like the SCO, it faces ongoing allegations of duplicity by supporting or tolerating proxies that serve its strategic interests beyond its borders. This double standard undermines India’s credibility and invites scrutiny from neighboring countries and international observers. Efforts to portray India as a responsible power are compromised by reports of interference, proxy conflicts, and alleged transnational operations, fueling instability from Kashmir to diaspora communities in Canada and the UK.
Ultimately, India’s insistence on lecturing others about the SCO’s anti-terror charter while engaging in activities contradicting those principles reveals a glaring hypocrisy. Aligning with Western military blocs cannot disguise the deep contradictions in India’s approach to regional security and diplomacy. Modi’s government may internally celebrate its policies, but the international community sees the dissonance between India’s declared principles and its on-ground actions. For India to truly embody the multipolar vision it champions, it must reconcile its rhetoric with a consistent, transparent, and principled regional policy that rejects proxy warfare and respects sovereign integrity, a challenge that remains unmet as of now.
