India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting held in Qingdao, China's port city. This marked the first visit of a Defense Minister to China after the severe tensions following the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020. During this visit, Rajnath Singh addressed several crucial issues, including terrorism, peace, and security. He noted, "I believe that the most significant challenges in our region are related to the lack of peace, security, and trust, with the primary cause being rising radicalism, extremism, and terrorism."
Rajnath Singh emphasized that "Peace and prosperity cannot coexist with the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the hands of terrorism, non-state actors, and terrorist groups. Decisive action is required to tackle these challenges, and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective security."
He further added, "It is necessary for those who sponsor, nurture, and use terrorism for their narrow, selfish motives to face consequences. Some nations use cross-border terrorism as a tool of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. Such double standards must have no place, and the SCO should not hesitate to criticize such countries."
'We Have Shown That...'
The Defense Minister continued, asserting that India's zero tolerance towards terrorism is evident in its actions today, including our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have demonstrated that the epicenters of terrorism are no longer safe, and we will not hesitate in targeting them.
Rajnath Singh spoke about the need to take active steps to curb the spread of radicalism among the youth. The SCO's RATS mechanism has played an important role in this regard. The joint statement by the SCO Council of Heads of State, released during India's presidency, on 'tackling radicalism that promotes terrorism, separatism, and extremism' symbolizes our collective commitment.
"We should strive to combat technologies used by terrorists for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, including drones. In our interlinked world, traditional boundaries are no longer just a barrier against threats. Instead, we face a web of challenges, ranging from international terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare."
'Threats Don't Respect National Borders...'
The Defense Minister stated that these threats do not respect national borders and require an integrated response based on transparency, mutual trust, and cooperation. India reaffirms its resolve to fight all forms and manifestations of terrorism.
"On April 22, 2025, the terrorist group 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) carried out a heinous attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu, and Kashmir. The victims were profiled and shot based on religious identity. The Resistance Front, a representative of the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack."
Rajnath Singh further stated that we are living in a rapidly changing world. Globalization, which once brought us closer, is now losing speed. The weakening of multilateral systems makes it difficult to address immediate challenges, from maintaining peace and security to rebuilding post-pandemic economies. India believes that reformed multilateralism can help build cooperation to prevent conflicts among countries by creating mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation.
Rajnath Singh concluded, "No country, no matter how big and powerful, can operate alone. Indeed, the core idea of the global order or multilateralism is the notion that nations should work together for their mutual and collective benefit. It reflects our ancient Sanskrit saying 'Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu,' which means peace and prosperity for all."
