Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China, on Thursday, stressed that peace, security, and a trust deficit are the most pressing challenges facing the region.
Singh urged member nations to adopt a unified approach to combat terrorism and extremism, which he identified as the root causes of instability and conflict.
“The biggest challenges in our region are related to peace, security, and trust deficit,” Singh said. He underlined India’s belief in reformed multilateralism as a mechanism for conflict prevention, dialogue, and collaboration. “No country, however large and powerful, can manage alone,” he added, calling for deeper cooperation among SCO members.
Singh made it clear that peace and prosperity cannot coexist with the threat of terrorism, radicalisation, and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), especially when these fall into the hands of non-state actors and terrorist groups. “Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action,” he said. “We must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security.”
Referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent response through Operation Sindoor, Singh reiterated India’s right to self-defence. He stated that the pattern of the Pahalgam attack was consistent with Lashkar-e-Taiba’s previous operations in India. “In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt further cross-border attacks, India on May 7, 2025, launched Operation Sindoor, successfully dismantling terrorist infrastructure across the border,” Singh noted.
He concluded by calling for international accountability, stressing that “the perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, must be held accountable and brought to justice.” His remarks reflected India’s firm position on terrorism and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework.
