‘Can’t lose sight of state-sponsored terror’: Rajnath fires at Pakistan from SCO defence podium

Days after the anniversary of the Pahalgam attack, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday flagged Pakistan’s role at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

In his statement at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Kyrgyzstan, Rajnath called upon SCO members to act against those abetting and sheltering terrorists and said such actions strike at the very sovereignty of a nation state.

With both Pakistan and China at the table, Rajnath said, “We must not lose sight of state‑sponsored cross‑border terrorism which attacks the very sovereignty of a nation state. There is no place for any double standards and SCO should not hesitate in seeking appropriate action against those who abet, shelter and provide safe havens to terrorists.”

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Referring to the Pahalgam attack and India’s response, Rajnath said India demonstrated with Operation Sindoor its firm resolve that terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment.

At last year’s defence ministers’ forum under China’s presidency, Rajnath had refused to sign the joint statement because it did not mention the Pahalgam attack. India had blamed Pakistan —China’s all‑weather partner— for the attack and struck terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) in response.

In his statement, Rajnath referred to the declaration that SCO leaders signed on ‘Countering Radicalization leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism’ during India’s SCO presidency in 2023 and said such declarations symbolise the group’s shared commitment.

Rajnath added, “We are also facing a growing challenge in the form of extremism, radicalism, and terrorism. Terrorism has become the most serious threat to the emerging world order. It is in this backdrop that the SCO emerged as an organisation based on our shared values. SCO has condemned such acts and ideologies in a common fight against terrorism. Thus, counter‑terrorism is a foundational principle of this organisation.”

Referring to India’s approach to terrorism, Rajnath said the country has a zero‑tolerance outlook towards terrorism and its perpetrators.

Even as the SCO has previously endorsed such a stand, Rajnath said the real test of collective credibility lay in consistency.

Rajnath added, “We must not forget that terrorism has no nationality and no theology. No grievance, real or supposed, can become an excuse for terrorism and humanitarian loss.”

China has sought to use the SCO as a strategic alternative to the G7 and promote its own vision of world order, but India’s presence in the organisation has acted as a check on such ambitions. Pakistan has often relied on China to escape scrutiny within the group, even though the SCO has a stated focus on regional security cooperation and counter‑terrorism.

Experts have said that India’s continued engagement in the SCO —despite China’s centrality and its alignment with Pakistan— serves not only as a counterbalance to their attempts to dominate the grouping but also as an expression of India’s commitment to building a multipolar world.