Pushes for zero-tolerance on terrorism
-: R Muthu Kumar :-
The pressing need of the international community to maintain peace and prevent conflicts is being addressed by members of SCO during their annual meeting of defence ministers of SCO member states. India’s steadfast commitment towards maintaining peace, stability and security in the SCO region was reiterated by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane who participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Astana last week.
He also stressed the need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards all forms of terrorism for the prosperity and development of SCO member states.
SCO is planning to strengthen its position in the global and regional architecture by actively working in support of building a polycentric democratic system of international relations. Which augurs well for India at this juncture.
With India’s global economic stature rapidly increasing amid the ongoing geopolitical contestation in the multipolar world, it has become imperative for New Delhi to be proactive at key multilateral fora. The SCO is critical for India to advance its priorities for peace and prosperity in its northern periphery and broader Eurasia.
He also highlighted the concept of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’, proposed by India for the Indo-Pacific.The SCO offers New Delhi the chance to safeguard, advance, and showcase its geostrategic and geoeconomic pursuits in the Central Asian and South Asian regions.
Today, the entire world is undergoing global changes and large-scale transformation. Hence the current international
The recent inclusion of Iran in the SCO has sparked concerns that the organisation may be viewed as an anti-western club, especially with the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving China, Russia, and Iran with the West. But it represents a powerful voice in global affairs and SCO is also critical for India to advance its priorities for peace and prosperity in its northern periphery and broader Eurasia.
As an emerging power in the current multipolar global order and it is also a platform for India to reaffirm its commitment to revive and deepen its centuries-old civilisational, spiritual, and cultural ties with other member countries.
India’s Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane was in Astana, Kazakhstan, last week, leading a delegation for the annual meeting of defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states. New Delhi forcefully advocated for zero tolerance toward terrorism, emphasising the need for urgent and decisive action. It stressed upon the organisation to take a strong stand against terrorism and work toward eliminating this threat from the SCO region.
Last year, India’s chairmanship of the SCO was a resounding success. With over 134 diplomatic events hosted, including 14 ministerial-level meetings, India played a crucial role in bringing together this, at times, divergent grouping. However, the hegemonic pursuit and belligerence forced India to host the 23rd Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO virtually.
The cross-border terrorism has compelled countries to take non-military pre-emptive actions and raids against terrorists and terror infrastructure in neighbouring countries. India has had to do this twice, and more recently, Iran launched an attack on Pakistan, targeting terror groups within its territory. Such actions are increasingly now deemed necessary to ensure citizens’ safety and security and prevent the spread of terrorism.
In the process, they make the SCO region even more fragile and susceptible to conflicts and wars.
India has been trying to leverage this regional grouping to advance its geostrategic and geoeconomic interests in Eurasia, based on cultural, civilisational, and spiritual connections.
