At the SCO Summit, India made a veiled yet firm statement against cross-border terrorism, subtly addressing concerns linked to Pakistan.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that there should be “no place for double standards” when it comes to fighting terrorism.Without naming any country directly, he urged member nations to adopt a unified and principled stand.
India’s remarks underline its long-standing concerns over state-sponsored terrorism and the need for global accountability.The comment received wide attention as regional tensions remain sensitive.India called for greater cooperation within the SCO to maintain peace and security in the region.
No Place for Double Standards”: Rajnath Singh’s Veiled Jibe at Pakistan During SCO Summit.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Qingdao, China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed key regional security concerns.While not naming Pakistan directly, Singh issued a strong message against cross-border terrorism and urged SCO members to take a unified and principled approach.He stressed the importance of peace, security, and rebuilding trust across the region.

Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists,” Singh said.“There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” he added, in a remark widely seen as a veiled reference to Pakistan.His statement underscores India’s call for collective action against terrorism within the SCO framework.
Singh’s remarks come just weeks after the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.The attack claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including a Nepali national and a local pony handler.India has blamed the assault on The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a UN-designated terror group.
According to Singh, victims were targeted based on their religious identity, making the attack not just violent, but deeply divisive.The incident has heightened concerns about state-supported terrorism and added urgency to India’s push for accountability.By raising this issue at the SCO, India seeks broader regional consensus on counterterrorism standards.
India’s position reflects a growing call within international forums to end selective silence on terrorism.As global security alliances evolve, India’s message at the SCO reinforces its stance that peace must be built on clarity, not compromise.
Rajnath Singh Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack at SCO Meet, Calls Out Cross-Border Terrorism.
During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a strong message against terrorism.Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Singh condemned The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.The attack killed 26 innocent civilians, including a Nepali national, many of whom were profiled and targeted based on their religious identity.
Singh highlighted the urgent need for SCO member states to take a firm stand against such acts of terror.Without naming Pakistan directly, he denounced the use of terrorism as a tool of foreign policy and called out nations that provide shelter to terrorists.“There should be no place for such double standards,” he asserted, urging unified criticism of state-supported terrorism.
The two-day SCO summit, hosted under China’s 2025 Chairmanship in Qingdao, focuses on the theme: “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.”Defence ministers and senior representatives from ten member nations — including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus — attended the event.Key discussions centered on regional peace, border stability, and counter-terror cooperation.
Singh noted that the region’s most pressing challenges involve peace, security, and a deepening trust deficit among nations.He emphasized that “reformed multilateralism” is essential for fostering dialogue and preventing conflict.“No country, however large or powerful, can manage alone,” he added, underlining the importance of collective action.
On the sidelines, Singh is set to hold bilateral talks with Chinese and Russian defence ministers.These meetings aim to advance discussions on border security, defence partnerships, and joint anti-terror efforts.India’s participation at SCO reaffirms its call for transparent, multilateral cooperation in tackling global and regional security threats.