No Safe Havens for Terror: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Calls Out State-Sponsored Terror at SCO Meet

In a forceful message at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Conclave, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to nations using terrorism as statecraft. He declared that India will not tolerate double standards in the global fight against terror.

Image Source: Saroja Singh on X

“Those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for selfish ends must face consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy. There must be zero tolerance,” Singh said in Qingdao.

Citing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were gunned down based on religious profiling, Singh said the pattern was consistent with previous Lashkar-e-Taiba operations.

He confirmed that India’s swift Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, had targeted and dismantled cross-border terror hubs.

“India has made it clear—epicentres of terror are no longer safe. We will not hesitate to act decisively.”

Singh called on SCO member states to drop ambiguity and condemn terrorism unequivocally — irrespective of motive or perpetrator. 

He emphasized that terrorism and WMD proliferation by non-state actors cannot coexist with peace and stability.

Singh also flagged the increasing use of drones and tech by terror groups and stressed the need for stronger SCO coordination via the RATS mechanism. 

He stated India’s civilizational commitment to peace through the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

“Peace, prosperity, and trust cannot grow in the shadow of extremism and radicalisation. The SCO must stand united.”