Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Rajnath Singh called for decisive action against countries sheltering terrorists….reports Asian Lite News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to adopt a unified and uncompromising approach against terrorism, warning that there should be no double standards in dealing with countries that support or shelter terrorist groups.
Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Singh said state sponsored cross border terrorism posed a direct threat to the sovereignty of nations and stressed that the organisation must take firm action against those providing safe havens to extremists.
“We must not lose sight of state sponsored cross border terrorism which attacks the very sovereignty of a nation state,” Singh said, adding that the SCO should not hesitate to act against nations or entities that aid and protect terrorists.
In a strong message against militancy, the Defence Minister said terrorist strongholds were no longer beyond the reach of “justifiable punishment”, pointing to India’s military response during Operation Sindoor as an example of the country’s determination to counter terrorism decisively.
Singh stated that the credibility of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation depended on its ability to consistently combat what he described as the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, he said no grievance could justify acts of terror or the loss of innocent lives.
“Terrorism has no nationality and no theology,” he said, while urging member countries to uphold international norms and standards in the fight against extremism.
The Defence Minister also spoke about broader global security challenges, saying the world was facing increasing uncertainty due to rising unilateralism and attempts to undermine the established rules based international order.
“We need an order where differences do not become disputes and disputes do not lead to disasters,” Singh said.
Invoking the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Singh stressed the importance of diplomacy, restraint and the ethical use of power. He said true strength lies in protecting the vulnerable rather than targeting the weak and urged nations to work towards making the present era one of peace and prosperity rather than conflict and violence.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to the SCO’s goals through the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or “the world is one family”, Singh called for stronger cooperation, mutual trust and respect among member nations to collectively address regional and global challenges.
