Quindao: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting at China's Quindao. Notably, Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif was also present also at the event. It was for the first time that the defence ministers of the neighbouring nations came face to face at a global event after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India's Operation Sindoor. However, Singh did not exchange pleasantries with Asif.
Earlier, in the day, Singh also reportedly refused to sign the joint statement of the SCO Defence Ministers' Summit for diluting India's stand on terrorism. As per a report by NDTV, the joint statement did not have any mention about the Pahalgam terror attack, However, it mentioned Balochistan.
Singh condemned terrorism at the meeting. He emphasised on crackdown against perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorist acts by bringing them to justice.
"Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, accountable and bring them to justice. He termed any and every act of terrorism as criminal & unjustifiable regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and committed by whom-so-ever. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally, he said, reaffirming Indiaโs resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," the Defence Ministry said in a press release.
โThe joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on โCountering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremismโ issued during Indiaโs Chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment,โ he stated.
During the meeting, he highlighted the Pahalgam terror attack carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow organisation of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He also talked about India's Operation Sindoor on May 7 targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Apart from India and Pakistan, the other members of the SCO are - Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
