Dushanbe, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for a collective crackdown on terrorism and its support networks, asserting that there could be neither justification for terrorism nor double standards in dealing with the threat.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, Singh described terrorism as one of the gravest challenges to peace and development, warning that it claims innocent lives, disrupts investment and commerce, and deprives young people of opportunities.
“There can be no justification for terrorism. There can be no double standards in dealing with it, and there can be no place for those who finance, support, or provide safe haven to terrorists. The entire ecosystem of terrorism must be firmly and collectively eliminated,” he said.
Singh also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on security, connectivity and opportunity as the three pillars of India’s vision for the SCO. He said the priorities were closely linked, as security encouraged investment while connectivity helped facilitate trade.
Referring to the organisation’s 25th anniversary, Singh highlighted India’s longstanding ties with Central Asian countries and called for practical cooperation among member states.
He also expressed India’s support for adopting the Action Plan for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme for 2026–2030.
Highlighting the challenges facing the global economy, Singh said conflicts and geopolitical tensions were disrupting trade and supply chains, while energy and food security remained concerns. He added that emerging technologies were transforming economies but also creating new divides.
“In this situation, the SCO will be assessed by whether it can find common ground and act on it,” he said.
Singh stressed that economic cooperation within the grouping should benefit every member country. He called for more resilient supply chains, easier trade and investment, greater use of technology for development, and efforts to ensure that the gains of economic cooperation reached all sections of society.
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