Rajnath Singh refuses to sign SCO Joint Statement over terrorism issue

The perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism must be held accountable Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO on Thursday even as he chose not to sign a communique by the bloc for not explicitly addressing Indias concerns over Pakistanbacked crossborder terrorism reported news agency PTIThe SCO operates under the framework of consensus and Singhs refusal to endorse the document resulted in the SCO defence ministers conclave ending without a joint communique people familiar with the matter told PTIThere was no clearcut approach to combating terrorism including crossborder terrorist activities they saidIn his address Singh said there should be no double standards in combating terrorism and urged the SCO member nations to condemn the menace with unity reported PTIBesides India and China the SCO comprises Pakistan Iran Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Tajikistan and UzbekistanIn an oblique reference to Pakistan Singh said some countries are using crossborder terrorism as an instrument of policy to provide shelter to terroristsThe biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace security and trust deficit he said reported PTIAnd the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation extremism and terrorismSingh said peace and prosperity cannot coexist with terrorism and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction WMDs in the hands of nonstate actors and terror groupsDealing with these challenges requires decisive action and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security he said reported PTIThe defence minister said those who sponsor nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequencesThere should be no place for double standards in combating terrorism he said adding the SCO should not hesitate to criticise nations indulging in double standards in combating the menaceSingh also said the pattern of the Pahalgam terror attack matched with LashkareTaibas previous terror attacks in IndiaThe defence minister said India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam exercising its right to defend against terrorism and preempt as well as deter further crossborder attacksDuring the Pahalgam terror attack victims were shot after they were profiled on religious identity The Resistance Front a proxy of UNdesignated terror group LashkareTaiba LeT claimed responsibility for the attack he said reported PTIThe pattern of the Pahalgam attack matches with LeTs previous terror attacks in India Indias zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated through its actions he said reported PTIIt 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 he said reported PTISingh said SCO members must condemn terrorism unequivocally as he reaffirmed Indias resolve to fight the menace in all its formsThe defence minister also called for proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among the youthThe joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism Separatism and Extremism issued during Indias chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment he stated reported PTISingh stressed the world faces an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyberattacks to hybrid warfareThese threats he said do not respect national boundaries and demand a unified response rooted in transparency mutual trust and collaborationThe defence minister also noted that India has been consistent and steadfast in its policy in support of peace security and stability in Afghanistan reported PTIThe defence minister arrived in this Chinese port city on Wednesday to attend the SCO Defence Ministers ConclaveWith inputs from PTI