New Delhi, Oct 20: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for the dismantling of the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism, saying there could be no double standards in dealing with the threat. His remarks came at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, where Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was also present.
“Terrorism not only causes the loss of innocent lives but also disrupts investment and commerce. It radicalises society and deprives our youth of the opportunities they deserve,” Rajnath Singh said while addressing the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting.
“There should be no double standards in dealing with terrorism, and no place for those who finance, support or provide safe havens to terrorists. The entire ecosystem of terrorism must be firmly and collectively dismantled,” he said.
Singh’s remarks come against the backdrop of India’s continued focus on cross-border terrorism and its demand for action against those supporting militant groups.
On October 15, the Defence Minister had warned that any further terrorist attacks originating from Pakistan would invite a stronger response from India. Speaking at the Times Network Defence Conclave in New Delhi, he said the country’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes should not be mistaken for weakness.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes, Singh said the operations marked a shift in India’s approach from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action against terrorism.
He also claimed that since 2014, the “shelf life” of most terrorists had fallen to less than a year, with security forces neutralising them within a year of their taking up arms against India.
Rajnath Singh said military strength and preparedness were essential to maintaining peace, asserting that India remained committed to protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.
On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Rajnath Singh held separate meetings with Tajikistan Prime Minister Qohir Rosulzoda and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
Earlier In a post on X, Rajnath Singh said he had underlined the longstanding civilisational ties and people-to-people links between India and Tajikistan during his meeting with Rosulzoda.
“Delighted to meet H.E. Mr Qohir Rosulzoda, Prime Minister of Tajikistan at the commencement of SCO Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe,” he said.
In a separate post, Rajnath Singh shared details of his meeting with Aref, describing the interaction with the Iranian leader as a pleasure.
Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon had earlier welcomed Singh and representatives of other SCO member countries at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in culture, connectivity, economy, innovation, investment and people-to-people exchanges, apart from reviewing the grouping’s financial and institutional functioning.
The ministry also highlighted India’s engagement with SCO initiatives in areas such as start-ups, digital public infrastructure and cultural exchanges, aimed at advancing practical cooperation among member states.
Comments are closed.