Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh emphasized at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) International Conference that sheltering terrorists and using them for cross-border attacks violate fundamental principles of humanity and international relations. He reaffirmed India’s commitment, along with Central Asian allies, to combat terrorism in all its forms. Singh highlighted the significance of the SCO as a crucial link for India with its historical partners in Eurasia, focusing on Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s framework.
Singh underscored the strategic importance of Central Asia in enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration, noting the region’s potential due to its lack of active conflicts, abundant resources, and traditions of secularism. He mentioned the establishment of key institutions in Central Asia following the SCO Leaders’ Summit in Tianjin, emphasizing India’s ratification of these centers to strengthen collective efforts against narcotics trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism. These institutions are set to bolster Central Asia’s leadership in advancing the SCO’s security agenda.
