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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh strongly reiterated India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism at the SCO meet in Qingdao, and refused to sign a document, as per sources.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the SCO meeting in China (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in China’s Qingdao earlier today, refused to sign a document which would have diluted India’s stance, sources said.
The Defence Minister also firmly put forth India’s stance on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
Further, Singh strongly condemned countries that use cross-border terrorism as a policy tool and provide shelter to terrorists.
“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,” Rajnath Singh said.
Bringing the Summit’s attention to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Defence Minister said, “On April 22, 2025, the terror group ‘The Resistance Front’ carried out a dastardly and heinous attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.”
“Twenty-six innocent civilians, including a Nepali national, were killed,” he recalled.
“Victims were shot at after they were profiled based on their religious identity. The Resistance Front, which is a proxy of UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack,” Singh stated.
The Defence Minister also mentioned India exercised its “right to defend” and successfully launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, aimed at dismantling the cross-border terrorist infrastructure.
“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 May 7, 2025, successfully launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure,” Rajnath Singh said.
“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,” the Defence Minister said.
“We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among our youth,” he added.
Before his departure to China, Rajnath Singh was briefed by top Army brass on the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with a focus on border areas, anti-terrorist operations and the Amarnath Yatra scheduled to start next month.
Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and other senior officers, including commanding officers of all units, attended the meeting at Udhampur-based Northern Command headquarters.
ALSO READ | ‘No Place For Double Standards’: Rajnath Singh’s Stern Warning To Supporters Of Terrorism
Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin…Read More
Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin… Read More
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