New Delhi. Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue of terrorism in the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Terrorism, he said, is the most serious threat to peace and development. Terrorism not only harms the lives of innocent people but it also affects investment, commerce and the future of the youth. There can be no justification for terrorism. There can be no double standards in combating terrorism and no room for those who provide finance, support or other help to terrorists. The entire ecosystem of terrorism must be collectively ended.
Rajnath said, the last twenty-five years have given a strong base to SCO. Now we have to make our future outline on this basis. India wants an SCO that works by consensus and delivers results. India will continue to work with member states to achieve this objective. India also believes that the SCO should remain efficient and adhere to the principles of sovereignty, equality, consent and mutual respect. More institutions do not mean more achievements. The focus should be on providing practical value to member states.
The Defense Minister said, we should also look beyond physical connectivity. Simplified customs procedures, digital documentation, efficient logistics and interoperable digital solutions can significantly reduce the cost of doing business across our region. The SCO should focus more on such practical measures. He said India will host the first SCO Civilization Dialogue Forum later this year. We invite all SCO member states to participate.