Beijing, Apr 24 (UNI) Batting for adoption of uncompromising approach towards the persisting threat of terrorism in Afghanistan, India on Tuesday said that the World has now realised that there were no good terrorists.
Speaking at the Defence Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council meeting here, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Arguments of political convenience to provide an alibi for terrorist organisations that support terrorism through material support or otherwise are no longer tolerable. Indeed, as the world has now realized, there are no good terrorists.”
Reiterating the Indian government’s commitment in helping its neighbouring nation from the menace of terrorism, she said, “We must adopt an uncompromising approach towards the persisting threat of terrorism in Afghanistan. India is committed to assist Afghanistan in regaining stability, including cooperation in building capabilities of Afghan security forces.”
On SCO the minister added, “Power has become decentralised. New centres of influence have developed, especially in Asia, leading to geo-strategic rivalries. As SCO members, we can work towards greater coordination and move towards peace & stability.”
"Our shared neighbourhood faces range of issues such as cross-border terrorism, extremism, cyber security & narcotics trafficking. These issues require solutions based on cooperative frameworks that involve all countries & stakeholders,” she said.
On SCO’s peace mission joint military exercise, Ms Sitharaman said, "India will participate strongly in SCO’s Peace Mission joint military exercises being held in Russia later this year. We believe that cooperation in SCO framework will help further strengthen India's bilateral defence ties in the region.”
Ms Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj are simultaneously in China to participate in SCO meeting.
The annual summit of the SCO, in which India is the latest entrant along with Pakistan, will take place in the Chinese city of Qingdao in June.
Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend it. The SCO, headquartered in Beijing, was founded in 2001.
Comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan, the SCO aims at military cooperation between the member states and involves intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism operations in Central Asia and joint work against cyber terrorism.
UNI ASH ADG 1616