Afghanistan must not be used as terror launch pad: Singh at SCO

India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said Afghanistan should not be used as a launch pad for terror activities in the region, and called for national reconciliation and stability in the country.

Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, he said Afghan territory must not be used to “intimidate or attack any country by providing safe havens and training to terrorists and supporting their activities through financial assistance”.

He also stressed the need to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghan citizens.

Voicing India’s support for a secure and stable Afghanistan, he said national reconciliation must be reached “through dialogue and negotiation” and “a broad-based, inclusive and representative political structure” be established.