Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a strong message against terrorism during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Qingdao, China, on Thursday. Without naming Pakistan directly, Singh condemned countries that support cross-border terrorism.

“Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” Singh said, while addressing the gathering.

He also referred to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and India’s response through Operation Sindoor. “The pattern of the Pahalgam terror attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross-border terrorist attacks, India on 7th May 2025 successfully launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure,” he said.

Singh firmly said that any kind of terrorism must be condemned, no matter the reason or place. “Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally,” he added.

He also said that those who support or finance terror must be punished. “We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, accountable and bring them to justice,” he further stated.

Singh says terrorism and peace cannot co-exist

While talking about global and regional issues, Singh said that the biggest problem in the region is a lack of peace and trust. He pointed out terrorism and radicalisation as the main reasons behind this.

“I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust deficit. The root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism. Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action, and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security,” he said.

Singh also mentioned how the world is changing and how global cooperation is becoming difficult. “The world we live in is undergoing a drastic transformation. Globalisation, which once brought us closer together, has been losing momentum. The weakening of multilateral systems has made it harder to address urgent challenges—from maintaining peace and security to rebuilding economies after the pandemic,” he said.

Singh was welcomed in Qingdao by China’s Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. Before the meeting started, he joined other defence ministers, including Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, for a group photograph.

The two-day SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting (June 25–26) is a platform for defence leaders from the member countries to talk about regional security, fighting terrorism, and defence cooperation.

What is SCO & India’s role in it

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was formed in 2001 to build trust and promote peace among member countries. It also focuses on working together in the fields of economy, culture, and security.

India became a full member of SCO in 2017 and actively takes part in its meetings. In 2023, India even chaired the organisation. SCO now has 10 members: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.

The group works on key ideas like respecting each country’s independence, not interfering in others’ matters, and treating all countries equally. In 2025, China is leading the SCO with the theme ‘Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move’.

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