Rajnath Singh Says ‘No Double Standards In Combating Terrorism’

Defence minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Thursday. At the summit, India refused to sign the SCO joint statement due to concerns of it weakening the country’s position in regional security and combating terrorism. India will “not hesitate to target epicenters of terrorism, peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism”, said Rajnath.

The SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province was held on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The summit is joined by Defence ministers of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus, along with India. The Defence ministers summit of SCO is conducted for regional and international peace & security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states.

In his opening statement, Rajnath congratulated “Belarus for joining the SCO summit as a new member”. “Globalisation which once brought countries together is losing its momentum”, “Competition with major power is intensifying with trade and technology being increasingly used in geopolitical rivalry,” he remarked.

“In the context of the current uncertain geopolitical scenario the role of SCO becomes very important today,” said Rajnath. “The biggest challenges that we are facing in our region today are related to peace, security and trust, ” he added.

He highlighted that there had been “increasing radicalisation, extremism and terror”. “Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism,” he remarked. In the presence of Khawaja Asif, Defence Minister of Pakistan, Rajnath criticised “proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups”. To deal with these “evil” challenges and for collective safety and security he calls for a united approach of SCO members.

“Some countries are using cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy to provide shelter to terrorists. The perpetrators, financiers and sponsors of terrorism must be held accountable and there should be no double standards in combating the menace”, taking a swipe at Pakistan the Defence Minister remarked. “Those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences”, he added.

“There should be no place for double standards in combating terrorism, the SCO should not hesitate to criticise nations indulging in double standards in combating the menace”, “the pattern of the Pahalgam terror attack matched with Lashkar-e-Taiba's previous terror attacks in India”, Rajnath bluntly commented.