Rajnath Singh slams state-backed terror at SCO meet, warns of decisive Indian response

In a powerful address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' meeting, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched a veiled but pointed rebuke of Pakistan, stating that some countries continue to use cross-border terrorism as a state policy while offering safe havens to terrorists.

“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 criticize such nations,” Singh declared, urging the multilateral grouping to adopt a firmer, unified stance against terrorism in all its forms.

The remarks come against the backdrop of rising regional tensions and India’s recent military action—Operation Sindoor—launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Singh said the attack bore the signature of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and underscored India's right to defend itself and dismantle terror infrastructure across the border.

“India’s zero tolerance for terrorism manifests through our actions. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe, and we will not hesitate to target them,” he warned.

Highlighting the urgency of tackling radicalization, Singh praised SCO’s RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) mechanism and recalled the joint declaration on countering extremism issued during India’s SCO chairmanship in 2023 as a marker of collective resolve.

Singh also called for strict accountability for the perpetrators, funders, and sponsors of terrorism. “Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally,” he stressed.

Emphasizing that peace and prosperity cannot coexist with terrorism or the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terror outfits, Singh urged decisive, united action.

The visit also marked the first by a senior Indian leader to China since the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, a development that continues to shadow bilateral relations.