Dushanbe: there could be no justification for terrorism and no double standards in tackling the menace, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Singh’s remarks on terrorism came amid persistent tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Pakistani state’s support for cross-border terrorism.
Pakistan is being represented at the Dushanbe meeting by deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar.
The importance of regional connectivity for shared prosperity was also highlighted by Singh who backed initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port to improve links between Central Asia and wider markets.
“No justification for terrorism, there can be no double standards on terrorism,” Singh said, reiterating India’s position that countries must adopt a consistent approach towards tackling the threat.
India supported initiatives that linked markets, facilitated trade and created fresh opportunities for economic growth, the defence minister said, as reported by News18.
“Connectivity is equally important for our shared prosperity. India supports connectivity that links markets, facilitates trade and creates new opportunities for growth,” he said.
Singh is representing India at the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. The meeting is focused on strengthening cooperation among member states in areas including trade, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural exchanges.
India has consistently called for a unified approach to counter-terrorism and has advocated connectivity initiatives that facilitate trade while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.
The SCO, which brings together countries across Eurasia, provides a platform for member states to discuss regional security and economic cooperation.
The INSTC is a multimodal transport network intended to improve trade links between India, Iran, Central Asia, Russia and other parts of Eurasia. Chabahar Port in Iran is another important component of India’s efforts to improve access to Afghanistan and Central Asian markets.