Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 27 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. The high-level gathering is scheduled to be held from April 27 to 28 and will bring together defence leaders from member countries. The visit comes amid ongoing global and regional security challenges. India is expected to present its position on key strategic issues during the discussions.
According to the Indian Embassy in Bishkek, Singh was received at Manas International Airport by Ambassador Singh upon his arrival. The embassy confirmed his participation in the SCO defence dialogue through a post on social media. The meeting is part of India’s continued engagement within multilateral security platforms. Officials said the visit reflects India’s active role in regional defence cooperation.
Ahead of his departure, Rajnath Singh said India will strongly emphasize its commitment to global peace at the SCO meeting. He also reiterated India’s consistent policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and extremism. The Defence Minister is expected to highlight security concerns shared by member nations. He will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from SCO countries.
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Singh is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community in Bishkek during his visit. The Defence Ministry said discussions at the meeting will cover counter-terrorism cooperation and regional security frameworks. Strengthening defence collaboration among SCO members will be a key focus area. Issues related to international peace and stability are also expected to be addressed.
The Ministry of Defence noted that the meeting is taking place during a period of geopolitical tension, particularly in West Asia. Member states are likely to discuss ways to reduce the impact of ongoing conflicts. The SCO remains one of the largest regional political and economic groupings. India, along with Russia, China, Pakistan, and other member nations, continues to play an active role in the organisation.
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