Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday slammed member state Pakistan for perpetrating cross-border terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in China, and urged other member nations to speak out against acts of terror. He also referred to Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attacks, as a response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Singh said that Operation Sindoor was a series of pre-emptive strikes, launched on May 7, in a bid to "deter further cross-border terrorist attacks" and "dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan.
Taking a direct dig at Pakistan, Rajnath Singh said, "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."
Rajnath Singh also highlighted a host of actions taken by India to show "zero tolerance for terrorism". "We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe, and we will not hesitate to target them," he said.
"We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth. The RATS mechanism of SCO has played a significant role in this regard. The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on 'Countering Radicalization leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism' issued during India's Chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment," Singh further said.
Singh is in Qingdao, China, to attend the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting till June 27, marking the first visit by a senior minister from the Narendra Modi cabinet since the Galwan Valley conflict in 2020.
Before the meeting commenced on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, and defence ministers from member countries — including Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — gathered for a group photo.
Aside from the meeting, Singh will also be looking at holding bilateral meet with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting, with an eye on restarting the China-India military hotline.
In a press release, Ministry of Defence stated, "Defence Ministry is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremisim in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO."
