Peace & terror cannot co-exist: Defence Minster Rajnath Singh hails Op Sindoor at SCO meet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that terrorism “doesn’t respect national boundaries,” urging the world to unite and take proactive measures to counter-terrorism. The remarks from Singh were made during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, on Thursday.

During his address, Singh made it clear that India has “zero tolerance for terrorism” and noted Operation Sindoor was India’s right to defend itself against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. “Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security,” Singh said at the start of his address.

#WATCH | Qingdao, China | "India's zero tolerance for terrorism is manifest today through its actions. This includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them, " says… pic.twitter.com/KpSjfNqiuT

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2025

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“It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” he added.

Defence Minister hails Op Sindoor

Singh recalled the horrors of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that led to the death of 26 people. He emphasised terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba have found safe haven in Pakistan, without even mentioning the country’s name.

“The pattern of the Pahalgam terror attack matches with LeT’s previous terror attacks in India. In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross border terrorist attacks, India on 07th May 2025 successfully launched Op Sindoor to dismantle cross border terrorist infrastructure,” Singh said in his Thursday address.

“We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and by whoever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally,” he furthered.

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#WATCH | Qingdao, China | "We should seek to counter the technology used by terrorists including drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. In our interconnected world, traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats. Instead, we face an intricate… pic.twitter.com/SfmLCAnWE7

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2025

Singh also spoke about India’s commitment to ensuring its connectivity with Central Asia. “Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also fosters mutual trust. However, in these efforts, it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states,” he said.

The defence minister reiterated India’s calls for peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. " Our immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance to Afghan people and contributing to Afghanistan’s overall developmental needs. As Afghanistan’s largest regional development partner, India continues to implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people," he furthered.

Singh arrived at the SCO  event on Thursday and was welcomed by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. It is pertinent to note that Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif is also participating in the summit. The meeting was scheduled to be held on June 25-26. The group comprises India, China, Russia, and several Central Asian countries, focusing on promoting regional stability and security through cooperation and dialogue.