New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to collectively work towards eliminating terrorism in all forms and fix accountability on those aiding or funding such activities.
In his address to the SCO Defence Ministers in New Delhi, Singh said any kind of terrorist act or support to it in any form is a major crime against humanity, and peace and prosperity cannot coexist with this menace.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and his counterparts from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan also attended the meeting. While Pakistan attended the conclave of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in virtual mode.
Defence Ministers of #China, #Russia, #Iran, #Belarus, #Kazakhstan, #Uzbekistan, #Kyrgyzstan and #Tajikistan were present in the #SCO meeting. https://t.co/4HbO1TTIqP pic.twitter.com/wOiZ401PiW
— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui (@shahidsiddiqui) April 28, 2023
Earlier to the SCO Defence Ministers meet, Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, Tajikistan’s Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, Iran’s Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani and Kazakhstan’s Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov had bilateral meetings with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Bilateral meet between India-China was held on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Defence Ministers had frank discussions about the developments in India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations. This is the first visit by the Chinese Defence Minister to India after the border transgression in Galwan.
Images released by Ministry of Defence (Rajnath Singh’s office), Defence Minister was seen shaking hands with his Counterparts from Tajikistan, Iran and Kazakhstan. However, there were no pictures of a ‘shake hands’ with his Chinese Counterpart. Li Shangfu’s visit comes days after India and China held the 18th round of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the border standoff. It is anticipated that Commander-level talks between India, China will ease down and resolve disputes in the Eastern Ladakh area.
Rajnath Singh avoids handshake with Chinese counterpart at bilateral meet
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/Vu7j8d0ey0#RajnathSingh #Chinesecounterpart #SCO #Bilateralmeet pic.twitter.com/ecTSEikbnz
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 28, 2023
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on April 28.
Calling upon Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to root out terrorism collectively and fix accountability on its supporters, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that any kind of terrorist act or support to it is a major crime against humanity.
“Peace and prosperity cannot coexist with this menace,” Mr. Singh added while chairing the Defence Ministers’ meeting which India is hosting for the first time since it became a full SCO member in 2017.
Separately, in a statement on bilateral talks between Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and Mr. Singh on Thursday, China said that the two countries share far “more common interests than differences” and the two sides should take a “long-term view, place the border issue in an appropriate position in bilateral relations, and promote the transition of the border situation to normalized management”.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane also stated that all the member nations arrived at consensus on several areas of cooperation, including dealing with terrorism, security of vulnerable populations, as well as HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief). He added that all member states were unanimous in their statements that terrorism, in all its forms, must be condemned and eliminated.
Further, the statement said that the two Ministers also discussed matters of regional peace and security. “They expressed satisfaction over the continued trust and mutual respect between the two countries, particularly in defence, and reiterated their commitment towards strengthening the partnership,” it said adding that they acknowledged the unique, long-lasting and time-tested relationship between India and Russia.
The meet was attended in person by Defence Ministers of China, Russia, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. From Pakistan, the Special advisor to Prime Minister on Defence, Malik Ahmed Khan, joined through video conference.
–
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
