Rajnath Singh To Actively Pursue Counter-Terrorism Cooperation at SCO Meeting in China
QINGDAO, China—June 24, 2025: The Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, who is gate-crashing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting set to begin tomorrow, will plead for enhanced cooperation among terrorism-ravaged member states. His flight to China shall count as an important engagement since it is the first visit of any senior Indian minister since the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which started in May 2020. In his address, he will highlight India’s steadfast commitment to fighting terrorism and extremism in the region.
Focus on Joint Action
It is considered a two-day gathering, during which Singh will shine a light on his stand regarding the need for joint and consistent efforts to wipe out terrorism and extremism. India has shown a strong determination in its fight against terrorism, appealing for a unified front with no “double standards” of any kind regarding the matter. This initiative is in line with the SCO’s broad goals, which include tackling terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
Regional Security Dialogue
The meeting will extensively deliberate on the evolving regional security scenario. Discussions are anticipated to cover various threats, including cross-border terrorism, which India has frequently highlighted, particularly concerning activities emanating from Pakistan. Singh’s participation comes less than two months after India conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructures in Pakistani territories following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Bilateral Engagements
On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Defense Minister Singh is due to engage bilaterally with his counterparts from a number of participating countries, including Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. These bilateral consultations are interestingly viewed as instrumental in enhancing diplomatic relations and in creating further common understanding on security issues on the ground.
India’s Stance and SCO Mandate
India, which is a full member of SCO as of 2017, holds the organization in high esteem, viewing it as a platform for strengthening multilateralism, fostering regional security, and economic cooperation. It is expected that Singh will reiterate India’s firm commitment to the principles and mandate of SCO, including cooperative engagement against security threats. The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of the SCO is in place as a permanent body to channel this cooperation.
