- Global Security, Counter-Terror Focus at Key Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Meet
- India to Push Zero-Tolerance Doctrine Amid West Asia Turbulence
- High-Level Bilaterals on Cards as Regional Power Dynamics Shift
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, APR 27
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 28, 2026, positioning India at the centre of crucial regional security deliberations.
At the high-stakes gathering, Defence Ministers of SCO member nations will deliberate on pressing issues related to regional defence and security, with a sharp focus on international peace, counter-terrorism strategies, and enhanced military cooperation among member states.
The meeting assumes added significance against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation—one of the world’s largest political and economic groupings—is expected to explore coordinated measures to mitigate the fallout of ongoing conflicts and stabilise the region.
During his address, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to reiterate India’s unwavering commitment to global peace and stability. He will underscore India’s firm position of “zero tolerance for terrorism and extremism,” a stance that has remained central to New Delhi’s security doctrine.
On the sidelines of the summit, Singh is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from participating countries, aimed at strengthening defence ties and expanding strategic partnerships.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, comprises India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the organisation’s rotating chairmanship in 2023.
