Terrorism should be “condemned and controlled”: SCO members

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries unanimously agreed on Friday that terrorism, in all its forms, should be “condemned and controlled,” according to Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, who added that India, as the SCO chair this year, will ensure a safe and secure future.

Addressing the reporters at the conclusion of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on Friday, Aramane said, “All the member countries were unanimous in their statement that the terrorism, in whatever form, shall be condemned and controlled.” “The extra-territorial terrorist activities, smuggling, narcotics, and other areas, which have been identified as areas for cooperation, will be acted upon in the coming years,” he added.

The two-day SCO Defence Ministers meeting began on April 27 and was attended by delegates from all member countries, including India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as hosts.

He added that India, as the chair of the SCO this year, will “lead from this trend in ensuring a safe and secure future for this region and the entire world in the larger context”.

He went on to say that India, as the SCO’s chair this year, will “lead from this trend in ensuring a safe and secure future for this region and the entire world in the larger context.”

Calling the meeting of the Council of Defence Ministers of SCO “successful”, Aramane said, “We are fortunate that there was a joint Communique and protocol signed by all the defence ministers today.”

“It is indeed a tribute to the cooperative attitude of all the member countries of this organization that we could arrive at a consensus with regard to several areas of cooperation in the defence sector,” the Defence Secretary added.

He stated that the primary areas of cooperation will be humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to vulnerable populations, cooperation in increasing the security of vulnerable populations living in various countries throughout the region, and cooperation among member countries in anti-terrorist activities.

Earlier, in his address to the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in the national capital on Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that India believes in maintaining peace and security based on UN Charter provisions and urged all member nations to make “concerted efforts to ensure win-win cooperation for great gain”.

Defence Ministers of China (General Li Shangfu); Russia (General Sergei Shoigu); Iran (Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani); Belarus (Lt Gen Khrenin VG); Kazakhstan (Col Gen Ruslan Zhaxylykov); Uzbekistan (Lt Gen Bakhodir Kurbanov); Kyrgyzstan (Lt Gen Bekbolotov Baktybek Asankalievich) and Tajikistan (Col Gen Sherali Mirzo) attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed issues of common concern, including those pertaining to regional and international security under the SCO charter. Singh also urged SCO member states to work together to eliminate all forms of terrorism and hold those who aid or fund such activities accountable.

‘Secure-SCO’ is the theme of India’s SCO Chairmanship in 2023. New Delhi places a high value on the SCO in promoting regional multilateral, political, security, economic, and people-to-people interactions. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2001. In addition to the member countries, two observer countries, Belarus and Iran, attended the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.