SCO Defence Ministers' Meet Under India's Presidency Reach Consensus On Fighting Terrorism
In the Defence Ministers' track of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation under India's presidency, all members agreed that terrorism, in all its forms, must be condemned and eliminated.
New Delhi: The Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Friday agreed to eliminate terrorism from the region and begin a “new journey” of development that will be acceptable to all even as they will together fight the scourge of terrorism in making the region of South and Central Asia “secure, peaceful and prosperous.”
For the first time since the inception of SCO, the Defence Ministers' meet was held under India's chairmanship in New Delhi. The meeting was attended in-person at the national capital by 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).
Pakistan was represented by Malik Ahmed Khan, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who attended the meeting virtually.
“If a nation shelters terrorists, it not only poses a threat to others, but for itself too. Radicalisation of youth is a cause of concern not only from the point of view of security, but it is also a major obstacle in the path of socio-economic progress of society. If we want to make the SCO a stronger & more credible international organisation, our top-most priority should be to effectively deal with terrorism,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at the meeting hinting at Pakistan.
He also said, “It is our moral responsibility to start a new journey of development in the region through mutual cooperation, harmony and respect.”
Singh also stressed the need to make the SCO as an "evolved and strong regional organisation, underlining that India views it as an important entity to promote defence cooperation among member states".
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The Defence Minister also reiterated the concept of ‘SECURE’ that Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier floated during one of the previous SCO summits that took place in Qingdao, China in 2018.
“He (Singh) stated that every alphabet of the word ‘SECURE’ reflects India’s commitment towards the multi-dimensional welfare of the region,” the statement noted.
According to the statement, Singh also said that member states were “unanimous in their statements that terrorism, in all its forms, must be condemned and eliminated.”
According to Defence Secretary Giridhar Araman, all the member nations “arrived at the consensus” on several areas of cooperation, including dealing with terrorism, security of vulnerable populations in various countries as well as HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief).
West Opposing Multipolarity Of The World, Says Russia
Russian Defence Minister Shoigu said at the meeting that US-led NATO should take responsibility for the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
"The primary objective of the West is to strategically defeat Russia, target China and secure its hegemony. America and its allies are plotting to make other countries stand against Russia and China. The United States seeks to change the system of interstate relations by creating controlled regional alliances, using blackmail and threats," Shoigu said.
On the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Shoigu said that the "weapons supplied to Ukraine end up on the black market and then in the hands of terrorists".
He also stressed, “The US and its allies are trying to restore their military presence in Central Asia on the pretext of helping in the fight against terrorism. The growing multipolarity of the world is being most actively opposed by the West in the Asia-Pacific region.”
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