Kashmir Impulse Desk

Bishkek, April 28 

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urged members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to take collective and decisive action against terrorism, separatism, and extremism, calling for the elimination of safe havens and an end to “double standards”.

Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Kyrgyzstan, Singh said terrorism had “no nationality and no theology” and stressed that countries must adopt a firm, unified stance against the threat.

“SCO should not hesitate in seeking appropriate action against those who abet, shelter and provide safe havens to terrorists,” he said, adding that the grouping had a responsibility to ensure regional and global peace and stability.

Singh said India’s “Operation Sindoor” demonstrated that “terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment,” underscoring New Delhi’s resolve to respond to cross-border threats.

He warned against state-sponsored terrorism targeting national sovereignty and said there should be no political exceptions in tackling such acts.

Calling counter-terrorism a foundational principle of the SCO, Singh referred to previous joint commitments by member states, including last year’s Tianjin declaration, and said consistency in action was key to maintaining credibility.

He also highlighted the role of the SCO’s regional anti-terror structure and past initiatives aimed at countering radicalisation.

Amid what he described as growing global uncertainty and fragmentation, Singh said the world needed a rules-based order grounded in coexistence and mutual respect.

“We must focus on a global consensus where co-existence, co-habitation and compassion take precedence over chaos, competition and conflict,” he said.

Singh said that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail over conflict, urging members to work towards an era of peace and prosperity rather than violence.

SCO defence ministers also discussed regional security challenges, including terrorism and radicalisation, and noted the organisation’s 25th anniversary in 2026, highlighting its increasing relevance in an unpredictable global environment.