Putin: Terrorism 'main threat' to SCO members

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Terrorism is a "main threat" to the security of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"Obviously, the main threat to the security of the SCO states is, above all, terrorism," Putin said during the SCO summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin said it is "important" to unite efforts of the international community for "effectively" combatting the "evil".

"And within the framework of our organization and its specialized structures such joint work is being conducted," he added.

Putin also said it is necessary to strengthen coordination between the SCO member states, as he added that Daesh is preparing "new plans" to destabilize Central Asia and southern Russia.

According to Kazakhistan's news agency Kazinform, the leaders of the SCO will issue a joint statement on combating the international terrorism during the summit.

"This will be the SCO's significant contribution to the struggle against that global evil," Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was quoted as saying by Kazinform.

Also on Friday, Pakistan and India were granted full membership of the SCO.

Putin hailed both the countries on becoming the new members of the organization.

"It is gratifying that thanks to our joint efforts and vigorous work of the Indian and Pakistani partners, the process has been successfully completed," he added.

Putin said it is "important" for the member states to help new comers to "quickly and efficiently" get used to the organization.

With the accession of Pakistan and India to the SCO, the number of the member states increased to eight.