Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is slated to head a senior-level delegation to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting on April 28. According to official reports, the gathering will serve as a platform for member states to address critical issues surrounding regional security and military cooperation.

The agenda for the summit is expected to prioritize international peace-building efforts and collective counter-terrorism strategies. These discussions are particularly timely given the current geopolitical volatility in West Asia, with the SCO aiming to explore diplomatic avenues to stabilize the region and address the broader impacts of the ongoing conflict.

During the sessions, Singh is expected to emphasize India’s unwavering support for global security and reiterate the nation’s firm “zero tolerance” policy regarding terrorism and radicalism. Furthermore, the Minister is anticipated to conduct several bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the main event to discuss mutual defence interests.

The SCO, established in June 2001, remains a pivotal intergovernmental body focused on political and economic collaboration. Since gaining full membership in 2017, India has played an active role in the organization, which also includes Russia, China, and several Central Asian countries, as well as Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. India recently concluded its tenure as the rotating chair of the group in 2023.