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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to unite against terrorism and dismantle the networks that finance, support and shelter terrorists, warning that the menace threatens regional peace, economic growth and opportunities for young people.
Addressing the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Singh asserted that there could be no justification for terrorism, no double standards in dealing with it and no place for its supporters.
“Terrorism results in the loss of innocent lives and disrupts investment and commerce. It radicalises societies and deprives youth of the opportunities they rightfully deserve,” he said, urging member states to adopt a concerted approach to tackling the entire ecosystem of terrorism.
Singh’s remarks placed security cooperation alongside economic integration as a key priority for the 10-member grouping, which includes India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries, among others.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on security, connectivity and opportunity at the SCO Summit in Bishkek earlier this year, Singh said the organisation must translate consensus into concrete action amid geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, supply-chain vulnerabilities and concerns over energy and food security.
He stressed that the SCO should uphold sovereign equality, consensus, and mutual respect, warning that creating more institutions would not necessarily yield better results. New mechanisms, he said, should address clearly identified needs, avoid duplication and produce practical benefits for member states.
Underlining India’s position on regional connectivity, Singh said infrastructure initiatives must be based on consultation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Projects that disregard these principles, he warned, would not be sustainable.
He cited the International North-South Transport Corridor and Iran’s Chabahar Port as important avenues for connecting Central Asia with wider markets. He also called for cooperation to extend beyond physical infrastructure through simpler customs procedures, digital documentation, improved logistics and interoperable digital systems to reduce the cost of cross-border trade.
The emphasis on sovereignty reflects India’s insistence that regional connectivity projects must respect the territorial integrity of participating countries and be undertaken through consultation.
Singh called for stronger supply chains, greater trade and investment flows, and wider use of technology to bridge emerging development gaps. He reaffirmed India’s support for an Action Plan for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme for 2026-2030.
He welcomed the SCO’s decisions at the Bishkek summit to establish the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe as permanent bodies, while stressing that their effectiveness would depend on coordination and timely implementation.
He also referred to a symposium on financing infrastructure projects in Central Asia held in Mumbai earlier this month and welcomed the participation of Central Asian countries and other SCO partners. He acknowledged the organisation of the first SCO Asian Economic Dialogue.
Singh invited member states to participate in the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum, which India is scheduled to host later this year.
The meeting reviewed progress in economic and trade cooperation and discussed ways to strengthen collaboration in transport, finance, the digital economy and social development.
The heads of delegation adopted a joint communiqué covering the meeting’s outcomes, the SCO budget for 2027, financial and administrative decisions, and the action plan for multilateral trade and economic cooperation for 2026-2030.
India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017 and participates in its various mechanisms, including the Council of Heads of Government, which focuses on economic and other practical cooperation among member states.
Team BharatShakti
