Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting on October 20, 2026
| Photo Credit: ANI
There can be no justification for terrorism and no double standards in tackling the menace, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, called on the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism.
He was speaking at the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in the presence of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
“Terrorism results in the loss of innocent lives and disrupts investment and commerce. It radicalises societies and deprives youth of the opportunities they rightfully 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,” Mr. Singh said.
Trade action plan
He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the SCO Summit in Bishkek in August and September, calling for concrete steps on security, connectivity, and opportunity. Mr. Singh said the organisation must adhere to the principles of sovereign equality, consensus, and mutual respect.
On economic cooperation, the Defence Minister called for strengthening resilient supply chains, facilitating trade and investment, and leveraging technology to address global uncertainties arising from geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and concerns over energy and food security. India supported the adoption of an action plan for the multilateral trade and economic cooperation programme for the period 2026-2030, he said.
New SCO mechanisms should address clearly identified needs and avoid duplication, Mr. Singh said. He welcomed the decisions to establish the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe as permanent SCO bodies, while stressing the need for effective coordination and timely implementation.
Thorny connectivity projects
Highlighting regional connectivity, he noted initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port could connect Central Asia with wider markets. However, connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, he said.
The Defence Minister also highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure, start-up ecosystem, and women-led development initiatives, alongside its international efforts on clean energy and climate resilience.
The meeting reviewed economic and trade cooperation among member States and discussed transport, finance, the digital economy, and social development.
The Heads of Delegation adopted a joint communiqué, the SCO budget for 2027, and the action plan for multilateral trade and economic cooperation for 2026-2030. Mr. Singh also invited member States to participate in the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum, to be hosted by India later this year.
Published – October 20, 2026 04:07 pm IST
