India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh used the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20, 2026, to demand coordinated action against terrorism, warning that the threat "radicalises societies and deprives youth of the opportunities they rightfully deserve."
"There can be no justification for terrorism, no double standards in addressing it, and no place for those who finance, support, or provide safe havens to terrorists," Singh told fellow SCO heads of government. He called on member states to make concerted efforts to dismantle what he described as the entire ecosystem of the threat, identifying it as one of the gravest dangers to peace and development.
On regional connectivity, Singh drew a firm line: infrastructure and trade initiatives must be grounded in consultation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, adding that projects not built on those principles "will not be sustainable." He specifically cited the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar Port as initiatives that could meaningfully connect Central Asia with broader markets. He also called for progress beyond physical links — simplifying customs procedures, promoting digital documentation, and adopting interoperable digital solutions to cut the cost of cross-border business.
Singh welcomed decisions taken at the SCO Summit in Bishkek in August-September 2026 to establish the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe as permanent bodies, while noting that their effectiveness would depend on efficient coordination and timely execution. He also reaffirmed India's support for adopting an Action Plan for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme covering 2026–2030.
The minister highlighted a symposium on financing infrastructure projects in Central Asia held in Mumbai earlier in October, and acknowledged the organisation of the first-ever SCO Asian Economic Dialogue. He pointed to India's Digital Public Infrastructure, its start-up ecosystem, and global initiatives including the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE, and the Global Biofuel Alliance as models the SCO could draw upon.
Singh closed by inviting member states to India's first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum, to be hosted later in 2026, and urged the organisation to translate its 25-year foundation into a forward-looking, consensus-driven roadmap with tangible outcomes.
This article is based on a primary source and has undergone editorial review prior to publication.
