Adopt zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism, India tells SCO member states

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane emphasised the need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism in all its forms at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting held in Astana on Friday.

The meeting, held within the framework of Kazakhstan’s ongoing SCO chairmanship, was attended by the heads of the defence departments of the SCO member states, the Secretary General, the Director of the Executive Committee of the Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), as well as Belarus’ Minister of Defence.

A joint communique issued after the meeting stated that the SCO Defence Ministers agreed, among other initiatives, to develop the idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, which is rooted in the ancient Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

Leading the Indian delegation, the Defence Secretary delivered the statement at the ministerial meeting and also held meetings with the Defence Ministers of the SCO member countries on various issues of bilateral cooperation.

Aramane reiterated India’s steadfast commitment towards maintaining peace, stability and security in the SCO region and mentioned New Delhi’s longstanding proposal of a Comprehensive Convention on