A few days ahead of the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in what could be perceived as a warning to Pakistan, said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek that the operation showed India's firm resolve that "terror epicentres" are no longer immune to "justifiable punishment."
He called on the SCO grouping not to lose sight of "state-sponsored" cross-border terrorism and that there should not be any place for any "double standards" in combating it.
He said SCO should not hesitate in seeking appropriate action against those who abet, shelter and provide safe havens to terrorists. “By tackling terrorism, separatism, and extremism without exception, we transform regional security from a challenge into a cornerstone for peace and prosperity,” he said.
Describing counter-terrorism as a foundational principle of SCO, the defence minister recalled last year’s Tianjin Declaration, which brought out India’s firm and collective stance against terrorism, and said, “The real test of collective credibility remains in consistency. We must not forget that terrorism has no nationality and no theology. Nations must take a firm and collective stance against terrorism."
"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," he said.
Singh strongly pitched for a unified front to tackle the "evils" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
"By tackling terrorism, separatism, and extremism without exception, we (can) transform regional security from a challenge into a cornerstone for peace and prosperity," he said in the presence of defence ministers from China, Russia and other member states of the grouping.
The defence minister described terrorism as the the "most serious threat" to the emerging world order and noted that counter-terror cooperation has been a "foundational principle" of the SCO.
"On April 22, we remembered the victims of the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The carnage in Pahalgam shook the entire humanity," he said.
"During Operation Sindoor, we demonstrated our firm resolve that terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment," he added.
The defence minister highlighted the significant role being played by the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure and referred to the joint statement of the Heads of State on 'Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism' that was issued during India's chairmanship of the grouping.
He further stated that in view of the present global uncertainties, the SCO holds a "pivotal role".
"Do we need a new world order or a world which is more orderly? We need an order where every citizen of this world is treated with dignity and respect. We need an order where differences do not become disputes and disputes don't precede disasters," he said.
"The real crisis today is not of a non-existent order but a tendency to question the established rule-based world order. We must focus on a global consensus where co-existence, co-habitation and compassion take precedence over chaos, competition and conflict," he said.
Singh noted that it is the responsibility of SCO to ensure regional as well as global peace and stability.
—With agency inputs
