25th SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting: Raksha Mantri calls for unified action to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism

India’s Defence Minister called for unified SCO action against the full system that allows terrorism to survive. This matters because terrorism kills civilians, damages peace, weakens development, and threatens trade and investment. Singh said every member should respond consistently, without excuses or double standards.

The proposed response goes beyond confronting people who carry out attacks. It includes rejecting those who finance terrorism, support terrorists, or provide them safe havens. SCO countries would need to coordinate their efforts and turn shared positions into concrete action. The aim is to dismantle the structures that sustain terrorism.

At the Dushanbe meeting on October 20, 2026, Singh described terrorism as one of the gravest threats to peace and development. He also linked it to radicalised societies and lost opportunities for youth. The call places security cooperation at the centre of the SCO’s wider work on development, connectivity, and economic engagement.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, is a regional grouping whose members cooperate on shared political, security, economic, and development concerns. In this article, it serves as a forum for governments to build consensus and coordinate action. Its purpose is practical: address common risks while creating opportunities across the region.

The organisation brings countries together to discuss terrorism, drug control, trade, investment, connectivity, and resilient supply chains. It also considers energy and food security, technological divides, customs procedures, and digital systems. These issues are connected because security problems can damage commerce, while better infrastructure can support development.

At the 25th Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, India urged the SCO to convert consensus into action. The article highlights economic cooperation, the 2026-2030 trade programme, permanent centres for universal and anti-drug work, and transport links such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port.

The SCO has 10 full members. The article stresses that the organisation must follow sovereign equality, consensus, and mutual respect. With many countries involved, agreement is not automatic. Members have different economies, priorities, security concerns, and infrastructure needs, so lasting decisions require consultation.

The meeting illustrates this challenge. SCO members considered terrorism, connectivity, trade, investment, supply chains, energy, food security, and technology. A proposal that benefits one country may raise concerns for another, especially when transport projects cross borders. Consensus helps members support decisions collectively rather than treating them as arrangements imposed by a few states.

India also warned that creating more institutions does not necessarily produce better results. New mechanisms should meet clearly identified needs, avoid duplication, and deliver practical value. The organisation’s size therefore makes efficient coordination important. Its success depends on converting broad agreement into timely, useful action for all members.

The phrase “entire ecosystem of terrorism” means the wider network and support structure behind terrorist violence. It includes more than the individuals who carry out attacks. Singh specifically identified people and entities that finance terrorism, support terrorists, or provide them with safe havens. Removing these enablers can make attacks harder to organise and sustain.

The mechanism is collective disruption. Countries must share a firm position, reject double standards, and coordinate action against money, assistance, shelter, and other forms of support. The article also links terrorism with radicalised societies, showing that the problem includes environments in which extremist ideas can spread and recruit people.

At the Dushanbe meeting, India urged SCO states to dismantle this entire system together. The call reflects the belief that security measures focused only on attackers are incomplete. Cutting support networks would protect civilians, reduce disruption to commerce, and help restore opportunities for young people affected by violence and instability.

Terrorism creates both human suffering and economic damage. It causes the loss of innocent lives and disrupts investment and commerce. When businesses face insecurity, they may delay projects, reduce activity, or avoid affected areas. This makes development harder and can weaken confidence in regional cooperation.

The social effects are equally serious. Singh said terrorism radicalises societies and deprives youth of opportunities they rightfully deserve. Violence and fear can damage education, employment, entrepreneurship, and everyday social trust. Economic disruption then reinforces these problems, because fewer investments and weaker trade mean fewer routes to jobs and growth.

The article presents terrorism as one of the gravest threats to peace and development. That is why India called for coordinated action across the SCO, including action against financiers, supporters, and safe havens. Protecting commerce and investment is therefore part of protecting people and expanding opportunities, not a separate economic concern.

India’s position is that connectivity should serve shared prosperity without overriding national rights. Transport routes cross borders and affect markets, security, and development. Respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity gives each country a voice in projects that pass through or affect its territory. India says projects lacking these principles will not be sustainable.

The key mechanism is consultation. Countries should discuss routes, rules, and impacts before projects proceed. India supports links such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port, but says physical infrastructure alone is not enough. Customs, digital documentation, logistics, and interoperable systems must also work across borders.

This approach connects infrastructure with trust and practical delivery. At the Dushanbe meeting, Singh supported initiatives that link markets and create development opportunities. He also urged the SCO to reduce business costs through smoother procedures. Respectful planning can make regional connectivity more durable and useful to all participating countries.

Resilient supply chains help countries keep goods moving when geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, or shortages occur. Simpler customs procedures reduce border delays. Digital documents replace slower paper-based processes. Interoperable systems allow different countries’ technologies to work together. These changes make trade more predictable and lower the cost of doing business.

The mechanism is coordination across the whole journey, not just building roads, ports, or railways. Customs agencies need simpler rules, businesses need accepted digital records, and logistics systems need to exchange information. When these parts connect, goods can cross borders with fewer interruptions and less duplication. This complements physical connectivity.

Singh raised these priorities as the SCO confronts disruptions to trade and supply chains, energy and food-security concerns, and technological divides. He called for resilient supply chains, easier trade and investment, and technology-led development. Better systems could help the benefits of economic cooperation reach entrepreneurs, farmers, small businesses, and youth.