No double standards on terror, need unified action to dismantle its entire ecosystem: Rajnath at SCO; says members will have to work together on resilient supply chains

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional grouping that brings together major Eurasian countries. Its members discuss shared security concerns, connectivity, trade, investment, and development. Cooperation matters because decisions involving such a broad region can affect movement, markets, and stability across borders.

The council of heads of government is one of the SCO’s senior decision-making forums. It considers practical economic and administrative cooperation rather than only high-level political strategy. At its 25th meeting in Dushanbe, Rajnath Singh urged members to coordinate against terrorism, strengthen supply chains, and improve trade and investment.

The meeting showed how security and economic issues overlap. Singh called for an action plan covering multilateral trade and economic cooperation from 2026 to 2030. He also urged the SCO to use consensus, respect sovereignty, avoid duplicated institutions, and focus new mechanisms on clearly identified needs and tangible results.

Dismantling terrorism’s entire ecosystem means targeting the conditions that let terrorist groups form, operate, and recover. This includes stopping funding, weapons, logistical assistance, recruitment, political or social support, and safe havens. The aim is to prevent attacks before they happen, rather than responding only after lives are lost.

Singh said there can be no justification or double standards in addressing terrorism. He called on SCO members to make concerted efforts against those who finance, support, or provide safe havens to terrorists. That approach requires countries to share responsibility and avoid protecting useful partners when they threaten others.

The issue matters beyond security. Singh said terrorism destroys innocent lives, radicalises societies, and disrupts investment and commerce. A coordinated regional response could therefore protect people while preserving economic confidence and young people’s access to education, work, and opportunity.

The SCO has 10 full members: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Together, they span a large part of Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Central Asia to South Asia and East Asia. Their combined population exceeds three billion people, or roughly 40% of humanity.

This size gives joint decisions potential importance because the members include major economies, populous markets, and strategically important transport routes. For example, cooperation on customs, logistics, or supply chains could influence how goods move between Central Asia and wider markets. Security coordination could also affect regional confidence and investment.

However, size does not guarantee agreement or implementation. The article highlights India’s preference for sovereign equality, consensus, mutual respect, and practical value. The SCO’s influence will therefore depend on whether its members can turn broad commitments into coordinated actions and sustainable projects.

Terrorism and insecurity raise risk for businesses, workers, and governments. Attacks can damage infrastructure, interrupt transport, close markets, and make companies doubt whether factories or investments are safe. Investors may delay projects or move money elsewhere. Traders may face higher insurance, security, and delivery costs.

The effects spread through employment. When commerce slows, firms may reduce production, hiring, and wages. Disrupted transport can also delay supplies and exports. Singh said terrorism disrupts investment and commerce, while radicalising societies and depriving youth of opportunities. Young people may lose access to work, education, mobility, and stable communities.

These consequences explain why Singh linked counterterrorism with development. Dismantling financing and support networks can reduce the threat, while stronger regional cooperation can protect trade and investment. SCO members’ challenge is to turn shared security commitments into safer conditions where businesses operate and young people can build their futures.

International supply chains depend on connected producers, transport routes, ports, warehouses, customs systems, and markets. A conflict in West Asia can threaten shipping lanes, ports, roads, energy supplies, or communication links. Even when a route remains open, insecurity can cause delays, rerouting, higher insurance costs, and shortages of key inputs.

A resilient supply chain can absorb disruption and recover quickly. It may use alternative routes, suppliers, ports, and transport modes. It also needs accurate information, efficient logistics, and coordinated customs procedures. Singh pointed to the need for resilient supply chains as the global economic environment changes, including amid disruption linked to the West Asia conflict.

For SCO countries, resilience means working together rather than relying on one vulnerable path. Better trade and investment, digital documentation, and interoperable solutions can reduce delays and costs. Such measures can help businesses continue operating when conflict or another shock interrupts normal trade.

The International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port are connectivity initiatives that can link Central Asia with broader markets. Their importance lies in creating additional pathways for cargo, trade, and investment. More route choices can reduce dependence on any single corridor and improve access for landlocked Central Asian economies.

The key mechanism is multimodal connectivity. Goods can move through linked land and sea routes, using roads, railways, and port facilities before reaching international markets. Chabahar can serve as a maritime gateway, while the wider corridor can connect participating countries across regions. Better customs, logistics, and digital documents would make these routes more useful.

Singh said both initiatives could contribute significantly to connecting Central Asia with broader markets. He also stressed that connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. Projects based on consultation and respect are more likely to be sustainable and deliver benefits across society.

A supply chain is the connected process through which materials, components, products, information, and payments move from producers to users. It includes suppliers, factories, transport companies, warehouses, ports, customs agencies, and buyers. Reliable chains matter because delays in one part can interrupt production or make goods more expensive.

Customs rules affect how quickly cargo crosses borders. Digital documents can reduce paperwork and errors. Efficient logistics improve routing, storage, and delivery. Interoperable technology allows agencies and companies in different countries to exchange and understand data. Together, these systems reduce repeated checks, waiting time, and administrative costs.

Singh urged SCO members to move beyond physical connectivity. He called for simpler customs procedures, digital documentation, better logistics, and interoperable digital solutions. These reforms could reduce the cost of doing business across the region and make trade more dependable, especially when wider disruptions threaten transport networks.