New Delhi, 28 April (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to form a united front against terrorism, separatism and extremism, urging the dismantling of terrorists’ safe havens and the exposure of those who support and harbour them.

Speaking at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Singh said the recent “Operation Sindoora” had demonstrated India’s firm resolve that terrorist hubs can no longer escape just punishment.

Rajnath Singh stressed that terrorism has no nationality and no religion, and that countries must adopt a firm, collective posture against it. He underlined that safeguarding regional and global peace and stability is a core responsibility of the SCO and warned that state‑sponsored cross‑border terrorism cannot be ignored or handled through double standards.

Highlighting the SCO’s “Regional Anti‑Terrorist Structure,” he praised its critical role in information‑sharing, counter‑terrorism coordination and joint exercises, and said that in an era of growing global uncertainty, the organisation must play an increasingly central part in preventing the world from slipping into a cycle of chaos and conflict.

The Defence Minister said “Operation Sindoora” had clearly shown that terrorist centres in the region can no longer believe they are beyond the reach of justice. He urged the SCO to take firm action against those who incite, shelter, or provide safe havens to terrorists, and called for an environment in which ideological and logistical support for such groups is systematically dismantled.

Singh also emphasised that the fight against terrorism must remain rooted in the principles of sovereignty, non‑interference and multilateral cooperation rather than unilateral coercion. He reiterated that the SCO should continue to be a platform for shared norms and collective responsibility in security matters.

Rajnath Singh urged the participating nations to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy over the use of force, warning that the current era must not be allowed to become defined by violence and war but must instead be shaped by peace and shared prosperity. He said that, as custodians of defence and security, leaders have a duty to preserve the spirit of fraternity and goodwill and to refrain from using military power against the poor and vulnerable.

Invoking India’s ancient maxim of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), he argued that this philosophy dissolves divisions of caste and creed and is in full consonance with the SCO’s vision of a cooperative, secure and inclusive region. The Defence Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to constructively advancing the SCO’s goals, including enhanced security cooperation, counter‑terrorism coordination and joint efforts to combat radicalisation.

During the meeting, he also exchanged views with defence chiefs from other member states on the security challenges posed by terrorism, extremism and regional instability, as well as on the broader impact of these threats on global peace and stability.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar