Addressing the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged member nations to coordinate efforts against terrorism and the networks that support it. He called it a major obstacle to security and development.
Singh said terrorist violence takes lives and harms commerce and investment. He argued there can be no acceptable excuse for such attacks, no inconsistent standards for confronting them and no tolerance of groups or individuals financing or sheltering terrorists.
Referring to the August–September 2026 SCO summit at Bishkek, he recalled Prime Minister Modi's focus on security, connectivity and opportunity. Singh said India favours economic partnerships that benefit all members. In his view the organisation must uphold equal sovereignty and mutual respect, while creating additional institutions does not automatically improve results. Any new body should respond to a clear need and avoid overlapping work.
The minister highlighted global uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions, supply-chain interruptions, energy and food concerns, and technology gaps. He urged the SCO to act collectively to improve trade, investment and resilient supply networks. The benefits of cooperation must be broadly shared, he said, reiterating Indian support for the multilateral trade and economic programme's action plan for 2026-2030.
He welcomed plans to establish the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe as standing SCO institutions. Singh stressed that their value would depend on coordination and completing assigned work on schedule.
The International North–South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port were among the connectivity projects Singh cited. He said routes linking Central Asia to wider markets could encourage trade and new economic opportunities.
Cross-border connectivity must respect every participating country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Singh said. Projects not built on those principles would not remain viable over time. He also advocated easier customs procedures, electronic paperwork, better logistics and interoperable digital services to lower trading costs.
Singh referred to the recent Mumbai symposium on financing infrastructure in Central Asia, thanked the countries and SCO partners that took part and noted the first SCO Asian Economic Dialogue.
He proposed judging regional cooperation by practical benefits such as better prospects for young people, new customers for entrepreneurs, improved technology access for farmers and small firms, and stronger people-to-people links.
Pointing to India's digital public infrastructure, the minister said technology can make government services more accessible and improve financial inclusion. He also cited the country's startup activity and emphasis on women participating in development.
He linked the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure to affordable clean energy and climate resilience. Mission LiFE and the Global Biofuel Alliance were cited as additional examples of sustainability-related cooperation.
Singh asked SCO members to build on cooperation established over the previous 25 years and concentrate on workable outcomes. India would continue engaging with other members, he said, inviting them to the inaugural SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum planned in India later this year.
Delegations reviewed multilateral economic and trade activity, including possible next steps on transport, financial systems, digital commerce and social development.
The delegation heads approved a joint communiqué for the Council's 25th meeting. It addressed the SCO budget for 2027, associated administration and finance decisions, and the PMTEC action plan for 2026-2030.
The SCO Council of Heads of Government is responsible for advancing practical and economic cooperation among participating nations. India became a full SCO member in 2017 and has continued to engage in its meetings and mechanisms.