At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held on June 26, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a strong message against terrorism, asserting that peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with the menace of terrorism and radicalisation.
In his address, Singh emphasized that the region’s most pressing challenges stem from a growing trust deficit, radicalisation, and extremism. He warned that the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups poses a grave threat to global security.
“There should be no place for double standards in combating terrorism,” Singh stated, urging SCO member states to take a firm and united stand. He criticized nations that use cross-border terrorism as a tool of state policy and provide shelter to terrorists, calling for accountability for perpetrators, financiers, and sponsors of terrorism.
Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh noted that the pattern of the assault mirrored previous attacks by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. He reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and highlighted the country’s right to defend itself against such threats.
Singh also praised the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for its role in counter-radicalisation efforts and called for enhanced cooperation to prevent the misuse of modern technologies—such as drones—for smuggling weapons and narcotics.
The Defence Minister’s visit to Qingdao marks his first to China since Operation Sindoor and comes amid efforts to restore India-China ties. While Singh is expected to engage with counterparts from other SCO nations, no bilateral meeting with Pakistan’s Defence Minister is scheduled.
