"Not an era of war": Defence Minister Rajnath Singh advocates for peace at SCO meeting

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in the Kyrgyz capital, Singh emphasised the collective responsibility of the member nations in maintaining global equilibrium. "Since SCO represents a significant section of the world population, we have a responsibility to ensure peace and stability not only in our region, but in the world as a whole," the Defence Minister stated.

The SCO currently includes India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. Originally founded in 2001 by Russia, China, and Central Asian states, the grouping has grown into a major regional powerhouse over the last twenty years. Since becoming a full member in 2017, India has played a pivotal role in the bloc, notably assuming the rotating chairmanship in 2023. The organisation's strategic influence was further expanded last year during the Indian presidency with the formal induction of Iran as a full member state.

Urging a shift away from aggression within this influential framework, Singh called for a renewed commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts. "We should continue to follow the path of dialogue and diplomacy and not of unrelenting force. We should not allow it to become an era of violence and war, but an era of peace and prosperity," he said, while invoking the ethical framework of Mahatma Gandhi. "Let me recall the message of Mahatma Gandhi that an eye for an eye makes everyone blind, and before every action, we must remember how that action can make a difference to the life of the poor and needy."

The Defence Minister also addressed the ongoing global debate regarding the evolution of international governance, questioning the need for a complete overhaul of existing structures. "We often hear calls for a new world order. Do we need a new world order or a world which is more orderly?" he remarked, adding that the true requirement is an order where every citizen is treated with "dignity and respect."

Singh highlighted that the primary challenge facing the international community is the erosion of established norms. "The real crisis today is not of a non-existent order but a tendency to question the established rule-based world order," he noted. He suggested that global stability depends on a framework where "differences do not become disputes, and disputes don't precede disasters."

Calling for a unified approach to these global challenges, the Defence Minister urged SCO member states to prioritise humanitarian values over geopolitical rivalry. "We must focus on a global consensus where co-existence, co-habitation, and compassion take precedence over chaos, competition, and conflict," Singh said, reiterating India's stance on a stable and cooperative international environment. (ANI)