Overview
During the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Bishkek, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that terrorism remains the gravest threat to global peace and the emerging world order.
Key Developments
- Singh emphasised a zero‑tolerance approach towards terrorism, extremism and radicalism.
- He urged member states to adopt a unified and consistent strategy for eliminating these threats in all their forms.
- The statement was made at a high‑level gathering of defence chiefs from the SCO’s eight member countries, underscoring collective security concerns.
Important Facts
The SCO, founded in 2001, has progressively expanded its security agenda from border management to counter‑terrorism cooperation. The current roster includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The defence ministers’ meeting provides a platform for:
- Sharing intelligence on cross‑border terrorist networks.
- Coordinating joint military exercises focused on counter‑terrorism.
- Standardising legal frameworks to combat extremism and radicalism.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the SCO’s role is essential for GS2 (International Relations) as it reflects India’s strategic engagement in Central Asia. The emphasis on a zero‑tolerance policy ties into GS1 topics on internal and external security challenges, especially