India, as the host of the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday, took a firm stance against China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While fellow SCO members Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the Chinese project, India refused to endorse it. The summit's declaration acknowledged the joint implementation of the BRI, including efforts to connect the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union with the initiative. However, India has consistently maintained its opposition to the BRI, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India views the progress of the CPEC in that region as a direct infringement on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China's double standards become evident in this situation. In May of this year, China boycotted the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar, citing Jammu & Kashmir as a "disputed territory." However, China continues its regular business activities in PoK, which legally belongs to India.
During the SCO summit, India effectively confronted Pakistan and China on the issue of cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on member states to condemn countries that harbor terrorists and employ terrorism as a policy instrument. While Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the need to combat terrorism and extremism, he cautioned against using the issue as a diplomatic tool. China has consistently supported Pakistan in this regard and has repeatedly blocked proposals by India and the United States at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based terrorists as international terrorists. India, as the current SCO chair, deserves praise for utilizing this platform to expose the collaboration between Pakistan and China
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