Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek on Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that "Operation Sindoor had demonstrated India's firm resolve that terror epicentres will be meted out justifiable punishment." His remarks came just before Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was scheduled to speak at the same meeting.
Call for United Front Against Terrorism
Rajnath Singh stressed the need for a "united front to tackle evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism by dismantling safe havens and rejecting any political exceptions." He urged member states to eliminate double standards in the global fight against terror. "We must not lose sight of state-sponsored cross-border terror which attacks the very sovereignty of a nation state," he added.
Reference to Pahalgam Attack
Recalling the Pahalgam incident, the Defence Minister asserted, "No grievance, real or supposed, can become an excuse for terror and humanitarian loss." He emphasized that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances.
Global Situation and Rules-Based Order
On the broader global situation, Rajnath Singh remarked, "The real crisis today is not of a non-existent order but a tendency to question the established rules-based world order." He called for a global consensus where "co-existence, cohabitation and compassion take precedence over chaos, competition and conflict." He concluded by urging the international community to ensure that the current era does not become "an era of violence and war, but an era of peace and prosperity."
