'Some countries sheltering terrorists': Rajnath Singh slams Pakistan at SCO Summit; Khawaja Asif present

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in China's Qingdao on Thursday, where he delivered a sharp message on terrorism, indirectly targeting Pakistan in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. "Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations," Singh said in a strong statement. "Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whom-so-ever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally," he added. "We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, accountable and bring them to justice," he further stated. Referring to the broader geopolitical challenges, Singh called for greater unity among SCO members in facing threats to peace and stability. "I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust-deficit.

The root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism. Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges require decisive action and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security," he said. Opening his remarks, Singh extended gratitude to the Chinese hosts and welcomed Belarus into the SCO. "It is my pleasure to be here in Qingdao to participate in the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting. I would like to thank our hosts for their warm hospitality. I would also like to congratulate Belarus on joining the SCO family as a new member. The world we live in is undergoing a drastic transformation. Globalisation, which once brought us closer together, has been losing momentum. The weakening of multilateral systems has made it harder to address urgent challenges—from maintaining peace and security to rebuilding economies after the pandemic.

" Singh arrived in Qingdao on Thursday and was received by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. Before the official proceedings, he joined his SCO counterparts, including Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, for a group photograph. The two-day SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting, taking place from June 25 to 26, provides a platform for regional defence leaders to deliberate on shared security threats, counter-terrorism measures, and military cooperation.The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional intergovernmental body established in 2001 to foster mutual trust, political dialogue, and security cooperation among member states. It also works toward strengthening economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties, while promoting stability and peace across the region.India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 and has since taken an active role in its multilateral engagements.

In 2023, India held the organisation’s rotating chairmanship. The SCO currently comprises ten member countries: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.The organisation operates on key principles such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, and equality among states. China is chairing the SCO in 2025 under the theme, ‘Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move’.