‘No justification for terrorism, no double standards in dealing with it’: Rajnath Singh Represents India at SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting

October 20, 2026

Dushanbe: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday described terrorism as one of the most serious threats to peace and development. He said that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and there should be no double standards in dealing with it.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Rajnath Singh stressed the need to eliminate the entire network of terrorism.

He said that terrorism not only takes the lives of innocent people but also impacts investment and trade. Furthermore, it promotes radicalism in society and deprives youth of opportunities.

Rajnath Singh said, “Terrorism cannot be justified in any way. There should be no double standards in dealing with it. There should be no room for those who finance, support, or provide safe havens to terrorists. The entire network of terrorism must be dismantled through strong and collective efforts.”

India’s Emphasis on Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity

Rajnath Singh also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks during the SCO Summit in Bishkek. He said that the Prime Minister had described India’s vision for the SCO as based on the three key pillars of security, connectivity, and opportunity.

According to the Defense Minister, these three pillars reinforce each other. Security promotes investment, while better connectivity facilitates trade.

He said, “We deeply value our long-standing friendship and strong ties with the countries of Central Asia. In Bishkek, our SCO leaders celebrated the organization’s 25th anniversary. This was an opportunity to review our shared journey and discuss future direction.”

He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on the SCO to take concrete steps in the areas of security, connectivity, and opportunity. According to Rajnath Singh, this message is also highly relevant for the Council of Heads of Government meeting.

Support for the Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme 2026-2030

Rajnath Singh also announced India’s support for the adoption of the Action Plan for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme 2026 to 2030.

He noted that conflict and geopolitical tensions are currently disrupting trade and supply chains. Energy and food security are also areas of concern for India.

The Defense Minister said that new technologies are transforming economies, but they are also creating new divisions.

He said, “Today, the global economy is going through a period of uncertainty. Conflicts and geopolitical tensions are disrupting trade and supply chains. Energy and food security are a concern for us. New technologies are transforming economies, but they are also creating new divisions. In such a situation, the SCO will be evaluated on its success in building consensus and acting on it.”

Economic cooperation benefits all member countries: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh said that India wants economic cooperation under the SCO to be inclusive and benefit all member countries.

He said that countries should work together to develop strong and resilient supply chains, facilitate trade and investment, and use technology for development.

He also emphasized that the benefits of economic cooperation should be ensured to reach all sections of society.