Rajnath refuses to sign SCO document for not focusing on challenge of cross-border terrorism
Qingdao, Jun 26 (PTI) The perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism must be held accountable, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Thursday, even as he chose not to sign a communique by the bloc for not explicitly addressing India’s concerns over Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism.
The SCO operates under the framework of consensus, and Singh’s refusal to endorse the document resulted in the SCO defence ministers’ conclave ending without a joint communique, people familiar with the matter said.
There was no clear-cut approach to combating terrorism, including cross-border terrorist activities, they said.
In his address, Singh said there should be “no double standards” in combating terrorism and urged the SCO member nations to condemn the menace with unity.
Besides India and China, the SCO comprises Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Singh said some countries are using cross-border terrorism as an “instrument of policy” to provide shelter to terrorists.
“The biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust-deficit,” he said.
“And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism.”
