Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today called for a unified front to tackle terrorism, separatism and extremism by eliminating safe havens and rejecting any political exceptions. Speaking at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, He asserted that the sight of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, which attacks the sovereignty of a nation, must not be lost as there is no place for double standards. Remembering the victims of the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Mr Singh said that during Operation Sindoor, India demonstrated its firm resolve that terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment. He added that Terrorism has no nationality, no theology and Nations must take a firm and collective stance against the menace.

He highlighted the importance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) in today’s world, where the worldview appears fractured, and countries are becoming increasingly inward-looking. The Defence Minister said that the SCO is the home to some of the world’s most ancient civilisations. The Minister said that our region radiates the entrepreneurial spirit of ancient trade routes and the bravery and courage of our people. He said that SCO should not hesitate in seeking appropriate action against those who abet, shelter and provide safe havens to terrorists

The Defence Minister said that a peaceful future for our region requires the SCO to act as a consistent guardian of international standards. He expressed confidence that deliberations today would further deepen the understanding of shared security challenges and explore new areas for future cooperation in the defence and security arena. Mr Singh reiterated that India remains committed to contributing constructively to the implementation of the SCO’s mandate. He also advocated greater co-operation and mutual trust among SCO members based on equality, mutual respect and deeper understanding.