Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting. Steps to mitigate the impact of the war in West Asia are likely to be discussed. The defence ministry said the meeting is taking place amid geopolitical turmoil.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh departed for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting scheduled for Tuesday. According to a defence ministry statement, the ministers will deliberate on issues concerning regional defence and security. Discussions will also cover international peace, counter-terrorism, and defence cooperation among SCO member states.
The meeting comes amid geopolitical turmoil from the war in West Asia involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which has triggered a global energy crisis. The ministry said the SCO, one of the region's largest political and economic organisations, may discuss measures to reduce the conflict's impact. Iran is a member of the 10-nation bloc. Singh said last week in Germany that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have direct implications for India's security and economic stability.
Singh will highlight India's commitment to global peace and its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and extremism. In a post on X, he wrote, "Looking forward to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow. Shall highlight India’s commitment towards global peace... apart from conveying India’s consistent stance on Zero Tolerance for Terrorism and Extremism."
The meeting occurs a year after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, prompting India to launch Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Last year at the SCO meeting in Qingdao, China, Singh refused to sign the draft statement for omitting the Pahalgam attack reference.
