A high-level meeting of national security advisers from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Beijing witnessed a heated exchange between India and Pakistan. The confrontation erupted after India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval described New Delhi’s counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir as “anti-terrorist actions” and leveled unsubstantiated allegations against Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Lt. Gen. Naseer Khan Janjua delivered a point-by-point rebuttal, labeling Doval’s claims as “a pack of lies.” Eyewitnesses reported that Janjua, maintaining direct eye contact, accused India of scapegoating others to mask its own governance failures. The Pakistani NSA’s forceful intervention reportedly left the Indian delegation subdued.
Janjua went further, asserting that Pakistan possessed “irrefutable evidence” of India’s alleged support for militant groups in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These remarks escalated tensions at the gathering, which was ostensibly convened to enhance regional counterterrorism cooperation among SCO members.
The public acrimony underscores the challenges the SCO faces in maintaining cohesion amid the India-Pakistan rivalry. With both nations refusing to back down from their positions, the incident raises questions about the bloc’s ability to mediate conflicts between member states while advancing its security agenda. Observers note such clashes may dilute the organization’s effectiveness in addressing shared regional threats.
