Rajnath Singh warns against double standards on terrorism at SCO meeting in Tajikistan

Hyderabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for collective action to dismantle the ecosystem supporting terrorism, asserting that countries must not adopt double standards in dealing with the threat. His remarks came at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan, in the presence of Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.

Singh said terrorism undermines not only human lives but also economic activity and social development, disrupting investment and commerce while depriving young people of opportunities.

“There should be no double standards in dealing with terrorism, and no place for those who finance, support or provide safe havens to terrorists. The entire ecosystem of terrorism must be firmly and collectively dismantled,” he said.

The Defence Minister's remarks come amid India's continued emphasis on tackling cross-border terrorism. On October 15, Singh warned that any further terrorist acts originating from Pakistan would invite a stronger response from India.

Speaking at the Times Network Defence Conclave in New Delhi, he said the country's preference for dialogue, coexistence and peaceful resolution of disputes should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness.

Singh cited Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes as examples of a shift in India's approach to counterterrorism, moving beyond diplomatic condemnation towards action targeting the sources of terrorism.

He also claimed that since 2014, the ‘shelf life’ of most terrorists had declined to less than a year, with security forces neutralising them within a year of their taking up arms against India.

Stressing the importance of military preparedness, Singh said maintaining peace required strength and the ability to protect national interests. He said India remained committed to peace but was prepared to confront challenges when necessary to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.