New Delhi: India refused to sign the joint statement at the two-day SCO Defence Ministers meeting in China as Beijing and Islamabad did not want to mention the Pahalgam terror attack but were adamant on including the Jaffar train hijack incident in Balochistan.
A joint statement would have diluted India’s position on critical issues, particularly terrorism and regional security.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the conference in Qingdao, stressed the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism to justice and asserted that “epicentres of terrorism were no longer safe and India would not hesitate to target them”.
He stated that the biggest challenges faced by the region were related to peace, security and trust-deficit, with increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism being the root cause of these problems, a Defence Ministry statement, meanwhile, said.
“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action,” said Rajnath.
“It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. 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,” said the Defence Minister.
He asserted that India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross border attacks.
“During the Pahalgam terror attack, victims were shot after they were profiled on religious identity. The Resistance Front, a proxy of UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. The pattern of Pahalgam attack matches with LeT’s previous terror attacks in India. India’s zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated through its actions. It includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them,” he said.
The Defence Minister reiterated 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 termed “any and every act of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable” regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and committed by whomsoever. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally, he said, reaffirming India’s resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
He also called for proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among the youth, acknowledging the significant role of the RATS mechanism in tackling the challenge.
“The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on ‘countering radicalisation leading to terrorism, separatism and extremism’ issued during India’s Chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment,” he stated.
He underscored the importance of countering the technology used by terrorists including drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, pointing out that traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats in this interconnected world, the statement said.
He stressed that the world faces an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare. These threats, he said, do not respect national boundaries, and demand a unified response rooted in transparency, mutual trust, and collaboration.
Highlighting SCO’s crucial role in the current uncertain geopolitical scenario, Rajnath stated that the member countries contribute around 30 per cent of the global GDP and about 40 percent of the world’s population resides in them. He described the creation of a safe, secure and stable region as a collective stake, which can contribute towards progress and improvement of peoples’ lives.
He said globalisation has been losing momentum, and 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 added that competition between major powers is intensifying, with trade and technology being increasingly used as tools in geopolitical rivalries.
“India believes that reformed multilateralism can help build cooperation to prevent conflict between countries by creating mechanisms for dialogue and collaboration,” he added.
Voicing India’s commitment to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia, Rajnath said, “Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also fosters mutual trust. However, in these efforts, it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states”.
He added that India has been consistent and steadfast in its policy in support of peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. He enumerated the immediate priorities in Afghanistan including providing humanitarian assistance to its people and contributing to overall developmental needs.
“As Afghanistan’s largest regional development partner, India continues to implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people,” he said.
