At the SCO meeting, Rajnath calls for the dismantling of the entire ecosystem of terrorism

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh arrives for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting on October 20, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI

There is no justification for terrorism and no double standards in dealing with the menace, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, urging member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism.

He was addressing 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 leads to the loss of innocent lives and disrupts investment and trade. It radicalises societies and deprives youth of the opportunities they rightly deserve. Terrorism cannot be justified, it cannot be dealt with by double standards, and there is no place for those who fund, support or provide safe haven to terrorists,” Singh said.

Business action plan

He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the SCO summit in August and September in Bishkek, in which he called for concrete steps on security, connectivity and opportunity. Mr Singh said the organization must uphold the principles of sovereign equality, consensus and mutual respect.

On economic cooperation, the defense minister called for strengthening resilient supply chains, facilitating trade and investment, and using technology to address global uncertainties arising from geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and energy and food security concerns. According to him, India supported the adoption of the action plan for the program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation for the period 2026-2030.

New SCO mechanisms should address clearly identified needs and avoid duplication, Mr. Singh said. He welcomed the decision to establish the Universal Center in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Center in Dushanbe as permanent organs of the SCO, while stressing the need for effective coordination and timely implementation.

Thorny connectivity projects

He highlighted regional connectivity, noting that initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar Port could connect Central Asia to wider markets. However, connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, he said.

The defense minister also highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure, start-up ecosystem and women-led development initiatives, along with its international efforts on clean energy and climate resilience.

The session reviewed economic and trade cooperation between member states and discussed transport, finance, digital economy and social development.

Heads of delegations adopted a joint communiqué, the SCO budget for 2027 and the action plan for multilateral trade and economic cooperation for the period 2026-2030. Mr. Singh also invited member states to participate in the first SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum to be hosted by India later this year.

Published – 20 Oct 2026 16:07 IST