Rajnath Singh calls for united front against terrorism at SCO meet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for a united and uncompromising front against terrorism, radicalism and extremism, saying the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should act firmly against states that shelter and support terrorists. Addressing the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Bishkek, Singh said terrorism remained “the most serious threat to the emerging world order” and urged member nations to reject double standards in dealing with the challenge. Calling counter-terrorism a foundational principle of the SCO, Singh said the grouping must strengthen cooperation to eliminate safe havens and tackle what he described as state-sponsored cross-border terrorism that threatens the sovereignty of nations. He also cited the Tianjin Declaration and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure as examples of the bloc’s shared commitment against terrorism. The defence minister urged the SCO to act as “a consistent guardian of international standards” and said tackling terrorism, separatism and extremism without exception was essential to transforming regional security into a foundation for peace and prosperity.

हमारे क्षेत्र के शांतिपूर्ण भविष्य के लिए SCO को अंतरराष्ट्रीय मानकों का संरक्षक बनकर कार्य करना होगा। आतंकवाद, अलगाववाद और उग्रवाद से निपटकर हम क्षेत्रीय सुरक्षा को अपनी खुशहाली का आधार बना सकते हैं। हमारी सफलता इसी में है कि हम स्पष्टता और एकजुट उद्देश्य के साथ आपसी सहयोग करें। pic.twitter.com/6rzykwh61b

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 28, 2026

The SCO is an intern-governmental organisation established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, China. Its membership includes India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating chairmanship in 2023.