Mains issueGS-2Editorials22 October 2026

India's Counter-Terrorism Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation within SCO

An aspirant should be able to analyze India's nuanced diplomatic approach within multilateral forums like the SCO, emphasizing the critical link between a stable security environment (free from terrorism) and the success of regional cooperation and connectivity initiatives.

Source: thehindu.comOriginal report

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Why now

India's recent strong diplomatic stance at the SCO meeting, emphasizing the indivisibility of security and cooperation while refusing to endorse a joint statement, highlights the ongoing challenges in regional security and the complexities of multilateral engagement.

Core issue

India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan, reiterated India's consistent stance that regional cooperation, economic integration, and development cannot be meaningful without addressing terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. India called on SCO members to dismantle the ecosystem of terrorism, arguing against selective approaches and emphasizing that security is a prerequisite for connectivity projects like INSTC and Chabahar Port. This intervention followed India's refusal to endorse a joint statement at a previous SCO meeting due to its failure to reflect concerns over Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

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