Rajnath Singh Calls for Collective Action to Dismantle Terrorism Ecosystem at SCO Meet
Defence Minister urges SCO members to reject double standards on terrorism, deny safe havens to terrorists and strengthen regional trade cooperation during talks in Tajikistan.
DUSHANBE, Oct 20: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to unite against terrorism, asserting that the entire ecosystem supporting terrorist activities must be dismantled through firm and collective action.
Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Singh said terrorism remains one of the most serious challenges to peace, stability and economic development. He stressed that those who finance, support or provide shelter to terrorists must be held accountable.
“ There can be no justification for terrorism; there can be no double standards in dealing with it,” Singh said, emphasising the need for a unified international response to the threat.
He pointed out that terrorist activities claim innocent lives, undermine investment and disrupt commercial activities. Terrorism also fuels radicalisation within societies and deprives young people of opportunities to build a better future, he added.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was present at the gathering when Singh delivered his remarks.
The defence minister is on a two-day official visit to Tajikistan to represent India at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, which brings together member countries to discuss regional cooperation and shared priorities.
Singh’s comments come days after he warned in New Delhi on October 15 that any future terrorist attack originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response from India. He had also highlighted the effectiveness of India’s counterterrorism efforts, stating that since 2014, the average operational lifespan of many terrorists had declined to less than a year as security forces intensified operations against armed groups.
Beyond security concerns, Singh called for deeper economic cooperation among SCO members and expressed India’s support for adopting the 2026–2030 Action Plan under the Programme for Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation.
He said economic engagement among member countries should be inclusive and deliver tangible benefits to all participants. Strengthening supply chains, easing trade and investment flows, and harnessing technology for development should remain key priorities, he added.
The SCO’s multilateral economic cooperation programme seeks to expand trade, investment and sectoral partnerships among member states through transparent, predictable and stable conditions. It also aims to increase mutual trade and investment to improve the living standards of people across the region.
The proposed action plan for 2026–2030 has been under discussion among member countries, with experts meeting on February 25, 2026, to examine the draft framework for implementing the programme.
Singh also welcomed decisions taken in Bishkek to grant permanent status to the SCO’s Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe. The move, he said, would strengthen the organisation’s institutional framework and enhance cooperation in addressing shared regional challenges.
India’s position at the meeting reflected its emphasis on a coordinated approach to combating terrorism alongside greater economic integration, improved connectivity and sustainable development across the SCO region.
