Rajnath Singh calls for zero tolerance on terrorism at SCO meet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries to adopt a united stance against terrorism, warning that those who fund or shelter terrorist groups must be held accountable. His remarks came during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, attended by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said terrorism posed a serious challenge to regional stability and economic progress, with consequences extending beyond the loss of innocent lives. He noted that terrorist activities also hamper business, discourage investment and push young people towards radicalisation, limiting their future prospects.“Terrorism not only causes the loss of innocent lives but also disrupts investment and commerce. It radicalises society and deprives our youth of the opportunities they deserve,” he said.
The defence minister maintained that no justification could be offered for terrorism and called on countries to work together to dismantle the networks that sustain it. He emphasised that the international community must apply the same standards to all forms of terrorism, irrespective of where they originate.“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,” Singh said.

#WATCH | Tajikistan: At the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Terrorism is one of the gravest threats to development. Due to terrorism, not just innocent lives are harmed, but investment and commerce also get interrupted. Terrorism radicalises societies and keeps our youth devoid of opportunities that they deserve. So, there can be no justification for terrorism. There can be no double standards in tackling it. There can be no space for people who finance and support terrorists or provide them a safe haven. The entire ecosystem of terrorism should be ended strongly and collectively."

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2026

The remarks follow his recent warning that India would respond more strongly to any further terrorist attacks originating from Pakistan. Speaking at the Times Network Defence Conclave in New Delhi on October 15, Singh said the country's willingness to pursue dialogue and peaceful solutions should not be interpreted as a lack of resolve in protecting national security.Referring to India’s past counter-terrorism operations, including the Balakot airstrikes, surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor, Singh said the country had adopted a more proactive approach to tackling terrorism, targeting its sources rather than limiting its response to diplomatic condemnation.He also claimed that the time terrorists remained active had reduced significantly since 2014, with security forces neutralising many of them within a year of their joining militant ranks.
Singh reiterated that India continued to favour peace and peaceful coexistence but would remain prepared to counter threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.On the sidelines of the SCO gathering, the defence minister held separate meetings with Tajikistan Prime Minister Qohir Rosulzoda and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
During his interaction with Rosulzoda, Singh discussed the longstanding civilisational links and strong people-to-people ties between India and Tajikistan. In a post on X, he described the meeting as an opportunity to reaffirm the close relationship between the two countries.Singh also met Aref and shared details of their interaction on the social media platform. The meetings took place as representatives of SCO member states gathered in Dushanbe to discuss regional cooperation and issues of common interest.