India on Tuesday said that there can be “no justification” for terrorism and “no double standards” in addressing the menace, as it called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member States to make concerted efforts to “dismantle” the entire “ecosystem of terrorism.”
Addressing the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also said that terrorism radicalises societies and deprives youth of the opportunities they deserve.
“There can be no justification for terrorism, no double standards in addressing it, and no place for those who finance, support, or provide safe havens to terrorists,” Singh told the gathering, which included Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who was seated at the same table.
Singh underlined that terrorism results in the loss of innocent lives and disrupts investment and commerce.
The minister called upon the SCO members “to make concerted efforts to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism,” describing the menace as “one of the gravest threats” to peace and development.
In his address, Singh also recalled the deliberations at the SCO Summit in Bishkek in August-September 2026, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the need for concrete steps by the SCO on issues related to security, connectivity, and opportunity.
Singh emphasised the need for the SCO to build consensus and translate it into concrete action to address an uncertain global economic environment marked by geopolitical tensions, trade and supply chain disruptions, concerns over energy and food security, and emerging technological divides.
“There is a need to strengthen resilient supply chains, facilitate trade and investment, and leverage technology to drive development,” he said.
Singh also reaffirmed India’s support for the adoption of an Action Plan for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme for the period 2026-2030 and welcomed the decisions taken at the Bishkek Summit to establish the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe as permanent bodies of the grouping.
Underlining the importance of connectivity for shared prosperity, Singh said India supports initiatives that link markets, facilitate trade and create new avenues for development. He added that initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar Port can significantly help connect Central Asia with broader markets.
Singh also invited member states to participate in the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum being hosted by India later this year.