New Delhi, 28 April (Hindustan Times). At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ meeting, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called upon the SCO countries to unite to fight terrorism. He highlighted the use of new methods like social media and crowdfunding for terrorist activities. He said that if SCO countries have to emerge stronger, then we have to fight global terrorism together. In his speech, he kept Pakistan as the main target.
In the meeting of Defense Ministers of SCO countries which began in New Delhi today, Rajnath Singh said that terrorist groups are using new methods like social media and crowdfunding to expand their network. The Defense Minister further said that India is fully committed to contribute in strengthening the SCO, implement the decisions taken in the SCO meeting. Jaish-e-Mohammed, declared a terrorist organization by the United Nations, has been seen openly collecting funds in Peshawar, Pakistan. Such open fundraising has raised concerns about the resurgence of extremist groups.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that Jaish-e-Mohammed is getting open support from Pakistani security personnel. Pakistan was in the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) since June 2018 but in October 2022, the global terror-financing watchdog FATF removed Pakistan from its gray list. It argued that Pakistan has largely completed its action plans on money laundering and terrorism financing. Jaish-e-Mohammed’s crowdfunding is not limited to Peshawar, but is also visible in Pakistan’s Punjab, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other areas.
He said the ease with which UN-sanctioned terrorist organizations can openly raise funds raises concerns about the government’s ability to crack down on terrorist activities. We need to focus on our agenda to ensure a secure, stable and prosperous region, he said. In the SCO Defense Ministers meeting, Rajnath Singh said that it has been 14 years since Pakistan sponsored terrorists attacked Mumbai. Evidence of Pakistan’s hand behind the three-day carnage in Mumbai was in front of everyone, but Pakistan chose to ignore India’s requests.
Pakistan participated in virtual mode in the SCO Defense Ministers’ meeting. Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Defense Malik Ahmad Khan addressed the SCO meeting virtually. India is hosting SCO meetings for the first time after joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Apart from India, the membership of SCO includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Apart from the member countries, two observer countries Belarus and Iran are also participating in the SCO Defense Ministers’ meeting.
On Thursday, on the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, Defense Ministers of Iran, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The meetings were held in a cordial and warm atmosphere and emphasis was placed on the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties with India. In talks with the Defense Minister of China, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh clearly stated that the development of relations between India and China is based on the spread of peace and tranquility along the borders. He said that all issues along the LAC need to be resolved as per the existing bilateral agreements and commitments.
