Peace for progress: on the SCO, regional cooperation, the fight against terror
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting to emphasize that regional cooperation is impossible without addressing cross-border terrorism. India continues to push for a unified stance against terror, despite divergent strategic interests among SCO member states.
Why it matters
The diplomatic friction within the SCO highlights the difficulty of maintaining regional security cooperation in the face of long-standing bilateral conflicts between India and Pakistan.
Peace for progress: on the SCO, regional cooperation, the fight against terror Economic objectives can be met only in a stable security environment Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s address at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan, on Tuesday marks another significant occasion since Operation Sindoor (2025) when India has used the multilateral forum to raise the issue of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. He said that regional cooperation cannot be meaningful if countries approached terrorism selectively. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s presence added significance to the remarks, underscoring New Delhi’s diplomatic challenge within an organisation whose members have divergent strategic interests and security priorities. India has consistently argued that terrorism cannot be divorced from the broader agenda of regional peace, economic integration and development.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in