From China, India slams its friend Pakistan; says won’t hesitate to target epicentres of terror | WATCH
New Delhi: Speaking from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting hosted under China’s leadership, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a strong and direct message on terrorism, implicitly calling out Pakistan and asserting India's right to target terror infrastructure across borders.
In a pointed statement during the regional forum, Singh said, "India's zero tolerance for terrorism is manifest today through its actions. This includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them."
Although Pakistan was not named explicitly, the remarks were widely interpreted as a clear rebuke of Islamabad’s role in harbouring terrorist groups targeting India, especially in light of the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, which intelligence agencies have linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Singh further revealed that in response to escalating cross-border threats, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a precision military strike aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control. The operation, he said, successfully targeted and destroyed key terror camps believed to be responsible for orchestrating attacks in Kashmir.
Addressing the broader regional context, Singh urged SCO member states to act in unison against the menace of terrorism and radicalisation. "We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among our youth. The RATS mechanism of SCO has played a significant role in this regard," he said, referring to the organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
He also pointed to the joint statement on “Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism,” issued during India’s chairmanship of the SCO, as evidence of the bloc’s collective commitment.
"Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and by whom-so-ever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally," Singh said.
India’s firm stance was delivered at a forum co-led by China and attended by Pakistan’s defence delegation. It also comes amid growing strain in India-Pakistan ties, exacerbated by recent attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan’s alleged support for proxy groups.