Rajnath Singh tells SCO meet in Dushanbe there can be no double standards on terrorism

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urged members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to confront terrorism without exceptions, telling the bloc's Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, that there could be no double standards in tackling it.

Singh, who represented India at the meeting, described terrorism as one of the gravest threats to peace and development. He said it not only takes innocent lives but also damages investment and trade, and called for the entire ecosystem of terrorism, including those who finance terrorists or give them safe haven, to be dismantled collectively.

Pakistan's Dar at the table

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was present during Singh's address, according to reports from ANI and Outlook. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of backing cross-border terrorism, an accusation Islamabad denies. Singh's remarks echoed a similar message delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an SCO gathering in September.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon welcomed the delegations at the Palace of the Nation. On the sidelines, Singh held separate talks with Tajikistan's Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and with Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, ANI reported.

Wider agenda

According to the Ministry of Defence, the meeting was set to focus on culture, connectivity, economic ties, innovation, investment, people-to-people contact and the financial and institutional working of the organisation. India also highlighted its experience with start-ups and digital public infrastructure. Reports said Singh announced that India would host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum before the end of 2026.

Why it matters

The SCO, whose members include China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and the Central Asian states, is one of the few regional forums where Indian and Pakistani leaders sit together. New Delhi has consistently used these platforms to press for stronger collective action on cross-border terrorism. India is also expected to use its hosting of the new civilisation dialogue forum to deepen cultural and economic links with Central Asia, a region where connectivity has long been a priority for New Delhi.