Rajnath Singh calls for collective action against terrorism at SCO meeting

At the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for collective action to eliminate the entire ecosystem of terrorism. Singh emphasized that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and warned against double standards in addressing the threat, noting that it undermines peace, investment, and trade while depriving youth of opportunities.

Singh also announced that India will host the inaugural SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum by the end of this year. The initiative, originally proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to strengthen cultural ties and people-to-people connections among member states by sharing the heritage of ancient civilisations.

Addressing regional stability, the Defence Minister highlighted the interconnectedness of security, connectivity, and opportunity. He noted that security facilitates investment, while connectivity drives trade. Singh expressed India's commitment to working with SCO members to achieve concrete outcomes in these areas to navigate global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.