Dushanbe: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday stated that the entire ecosystem of terrorism must be firmly and collectively dismantled, emphasizing that there can be no tolerance for those who finance, support, or shelter terrorists.

Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan, Singh highlighted that terrorism remains one of the most severe threats to global peace and development. He noted that beyond claiming innocent lives, extremist violence disrupts commerce, damages investment, radicalizes societies, and strips young people of essential opportunities.

The meeting was attended by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, among other regional leaders. Singh is currently on a two-day official visit to Tajikistan to represent India at the multilateral summit.

Underscoring that terrorism has no justification, the defence minister warned against applying double standards when addressing the issue. He reiterated that nations must deny safe havens, financial backing, and logistical support to militant groups.

Reflecting on domestic security earlier in New Delhi on October 15, Singh had previously warned that future militant attacks originating from across the border would invite an even more forceful response. He also pointed out that since 2014, the operational lifespan of active terrorists has dropped significantly, with security forces neutralizing most threats within a year.

Beyond security matters, Singh addressed the economic agenda of the bloc, registering India's backing for the proposed 2026-2030 action plan under the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme. He stressed that economic partnerships should remain inclusive and advantageous to every member state, focusing on resilient supply chains, trade facilitation, and technological advancement.

Furthermore, India expressed approval for decisions made in Bishkek to establish the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe as permanent institutional bodies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.