New Delhi. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has described terrorism as one of the most serious threats to peace and development. He said terrorism not only takes lives of innocent people but also harms investment and trade. This pushes the society towards radicalism and deprives the youth of the opportunities they deserve.
Rajnath Singh was addressing the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. He clearly said that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and double standards should not be adopted in dealing with it. There should be no room for those who finance, support or provide safe havens to terrorists. He stressed the need for strong and collective efforts to eliminate the entire system of terrorism.
Security, connectivity and opportunity complement each other
The Defense Minister said that at the SCO summit held in Bishkek, the leaders of the member countries had reviewed the 25-year journey and achievements of the organization. This was also an opportunity to decide the future direction. In that conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called upon the organization to take concrete steps in the areas of security, connectivity and opportunity.
Rajnath Singh said that these three pillars strengthen each other. Security creates investment opportunities, connectivity promotes trade and the combination of the two creates new opportunities for people. India wants an SCO that works on the basis of consensus among the member countries and gives concrete results. India will continue to work together with all member countries to achieve this goal.
Better coordination is necessary for regional security
Rajnath Singh welcomed the decisions taken in Bishkek to make the Universal Center in Tashkent and the Anti-Narcotics Center in Dushanbe permanent institutions of the SCO. He said that the usefulness of these institutions will depend on their mutual coordination and the speed of completing the work.
He called for better coordination and effective action among member countries to deal with regional security challenges.
The benefits of economic cooperation should reach all countries
Giving India's perspective on economic cooperation, the Defense Minister said that economic partnership between member countries should be inclusive, so that each country can benefit from it. He stressed on creating strong and crisis-resilient supply chains, facilitating trade and investment, and using technology for development.
He said that the benefits of economic cooperation should reach all sections of the society. India supports the adoption of the Program of Action for Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation for the period 2026 to 2030. The objective of economic progress should not only be to increase trade but also to spread its benefits to the people at large.
Mentioned Chabahar port and transport corridor
Rajnath Singh also described the connectivity system as important for shared prosperity. He said India supports connectivity projects that connect markets, facilitate trade and create new development opportunities.
Citing projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port, he said these initiatives can play an important role in connecting Central Asia with broader markets.
However, he clarified that connectivity projects should be based on consultation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country involved. According to him, projects that do not respect these principles cannot be sustainable.
Also mentioned the seminar held in Mumbai
The Defense Minister said that earlier this month, a seminar on financing of infrastructure projects in Central Asia was organized in Mumbai. He expressed gratitude for the active participation of Central Asian countries and SCO partner countries in this.
He also informed that the SCO Asian Economic Dialogue was organized for the first time along with the symposium. These initiatives aim to advance regional economic cooperation.
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