Terrorism has no nationality or religion, and countries must take a firm stand against it, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he addressed a meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers on Tuesday.
The SCO must act decisively against those “who incite, harbor and provide safe haven for terrorists,” he noted, adding that there is no place for double standards on terrorism.
“The true test of collective credibility remains consistency. We must not forget that terrorism has no nationality or creed. Nations must take a firm and collective stance against terrorism.”
Describing counter-terrorism as a fundamental principle of the SCO, Singh noted that the 10-member bloc condemned terrorist acts and ideologies in a common fight against the threat. He referred to last year’s Tianjin Declaration that highlighted India’s firm and collective stand against terrorism, calling it a testimony to the country’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and its perpetrators. “By tackling terrorism, separatism and extremism without exception, we are transforming regional security from a challenge to a cornerstone of peace and prosperity,” Singh said.
He also called for the formation of a united front to confront terrorism, separatism and extremism by eliminating safe havens and rejecting any political exceptions, while drawing attention to state-sponsored cross-border terrorism that attacks state sovereignty.
He said that Operation Sindor showed that “terror hotspots are no longer immune from justifiable punishment.”
Operation Sindoor is the capital’s direct military response to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 people were killed. India launched the operation in the early hours of May 7 and struck terrorist and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan is also a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Highlighting the important role played by the SCO Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure, Singh said the Joint Statement of Heads of State on “Combating Extremism Conducive to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism” issued during India’s presidency in 2023 symbolizes the joint commitment in this regard.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers’ meeting was held amid instability in West Asia following the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Given the current global uncertainty, Singh said the SCO is playing a pivotal role because today’s global outlook appears divided and countries are increasingly inward-looking. “Do we need a new world order or a more orderly world? We need a system where every citizen of this world is treated with dignity and respect. We need a system where differences do not turn into disputes and conflicts do not precede disasters. The real crisis today is not a crisis of a system that does not exist, but a tendency to question the rules-based global order. We must focus on a global consensus where coexistence, coexistence and compassion take precedence over chaos, competition and conflict.”
The minister added that the world must follow the path of dialogue and diplomacy, not relentless force. “We must not allow this to become an era of violence and war, but of peace and prosperity… As people responsible for defense and security, we have a responsibility to uphold this spirit of brotherhood and harmony,” he said. “The true test of force is not to use it against the poor and the weak, but to use it for the benefit of those who are unable to defend themselves.”
