Rajnath Singh Slams Pakistan at SCO Summit, Rejects Double Standards on Terrorism in Presence of Ishaq Dar

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on an official visit to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on October 19 and 20, 2026. On Tuesday, he represented India at the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, commonly known as the SCO. During this significant international summit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh adopted a stern and uncompromising stance against terrorism, explicitly calling it the greatest threat to development, right in front of Pakistan Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. His direct and firm message once again forcefully projected India's unwavering position against terrorism on a regional platform where Pakistani representatives were directly present.

Addressing the high-profile gathering, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that terrorism is undeniably one of the most severe threats to development. Terrorism not only causes the tragic loss of innocent human lives but also severely disrupts investments and international trade. Also, terrorism spreads radicalization throughout society and deprives our youth of the very opportunities they rightfully deserve. Consequently, terrorism can never be justified under any circumstances or in any form whatsoever, and the global community must unite to combat this menace.

Strong Denunciation of Terror Financing and Safe Havens

Rajnath Singh strongly emphasized that there should be absolutely no place for those who provide financial assistance to terrorism. The Defence Minister stated in unequivocal terms that there can be no double standards when it comes to dealing with terrorism, while those who finance terrorists, provide support to them, or offer them safe havens must find no shelter anywhere in the world. He underscored that the entire ecosystem of terror must be collectively dismantled and eliminated. It's noteworthy that while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was delivering these hard-hitting truths about the terror network and its sponsors, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was sitting directly in front of him.

Call for Joint Efforts to Enhance Supply Chains and Trade

Along with taking a firm stand on the issue of terrorism, Rajnath Singh reiterated India's broader vision of promoting security, connectivity, and economic opportunities to ensure long-term regional prosperity. Sharing his perspective, he noted that we're currently living in an era where the global economic environment remains marked by uncertainty, while ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions around the globe are severely disrupting supply chains. Besides, energy security and food security have become major pressing concerns for all of us in the contemporary world.

New technologies are rapidly transforming economies while simultaneously creating new global divisions. So, the performance and relevance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation must be evaluated based on whether it can find common ground and act upon it effectively. In this constantly changing global economic environment, all SCO member countries need to collaborate closely on building resilient supply chains, fostering better trade and investment, and driving technology-driven development.

India Fully Prepared to Cooperate with SCO Partners

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also affirmed that India is fully prepared to share its experiences and work collaboratively with all its SCO partners across diverse sectors, ranging from Digital Public Infrastructure to women-led development and clean energy. India's proactive approach demonstrates its firm commitment to fostering mutual cooperation with all nations in the region. The true benchmark of our collective success must be measured by the opportunities we create for our youth, the new markets we open up for our entrepreneurs, and the strong connections we establish across different strata of society.

It's pertinent to mention that the previous meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government was held in November 2025 in Moscow, the capital of Russia. During that crucial summit, India was represented by External Affairs Minister S, while jaishankar, while the 25th meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, has been attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This entire diplomatic development has once again proven that India consistently maintains a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism on every international platform and never hesitates to expose state-sponsored cross-border terrorism for the sake of regional peace and sustainable economic growth.