Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for collective action against terrorism, stating that there can be no justification for terrorism and no double standards in tackling it. He made the remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in the presence of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Singh described terrorism as “one of the gravest threats to development”. He said it harms innocent lives, investment and commerce. “Terrorism radicalises societies and keeps our youth devoid of opportunities that they deserve,” he said.

“So, there can be no justification for terrorism. There can be no double standards in tackling it. There can be no space for people who finance and support terrorists or provide them a haven. The entire ecosystem of terrorism should be ended strongly and collectively,” Singh added.

Dar was seated across from Singh when he delivered the remarks. Pakistan's foreign ministry also shared a video of the meeting showing both leaders seated at the same table.

Singh is representing India at the SCO meeting in the Tajik capital, where leaders and representatives of member countries have gathered for discussions. He is on a two-day official visit to Tajikistan. According to news agency PTI, Tajikistan's Defence Minister Emomali Sobirzoda and Sherali Jonon of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed him at Dushanbe airport with a ceremonial reception.

Earlier in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on SCO member countries to work together to dismantle the entire “ecosystem of terrorism”.

“We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens,” Modi said at an SCO meeting attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders.

India has accused Pakistan's government and army of supporting and harbouring terrorism. Following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The operation and the subsequent military conflict resulted in heavy military losses for Pakistan. Days after hostilities ceased, Modi said, “While India believes in tourism, Pakistan considers terrorism as tourism, which is very dangerous for the world."

India maintains that it does not distinguish between terrorists and those who harbour them.