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Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Rajnath Singh to lead Indian delegation at SCO defence ministers' meet, hold bilateral talks with Chinese, Russian counterparts
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in China's Qingdao on June 25 and 26, the Ministry of Defence said Tuesday. According to the ministry, Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from a few other participating countries, including China, making it his second engagement with the Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun since October 2024, when both sides agreed to disengage in eastern Ladakh after being engaged in a military standoff for more than four years. Since 2020, Singh has so far held three bilateral meetings with Chinese defence ministers, one in September 2020 in Moscow and in April 2023 at New Delhi—both on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting—and the third in November 2024 at Vientiane, Laos, on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus. Sources said both sides are likely to discuss the progress in disengagement by Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the remaining border disputes. Issues related to regional security are also likely to be part of the discussions. The sources added that he would also likely have a bilateral meeting with the Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, where both sides are likely to discuss defence cooperation between the two countries. Since 2022, when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, Singh has had meetings with the Russian defence minister twice, including at the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi in April 2023. He co-chaired the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation alongside Belusov in December 2024. Singh was scheduled to travel to Moscow last month to represent India at the Russian Victory Day parade, but skipped it because of the impending Operation Sindoor launched by India in May against terror targets in Pakistan. Much of India's military platforms and equipment are of Russian origin and require regular spare supplies and maintenance from Russia. In a statement, the defence ministry said the ministers at the SCO meet are expected to discuss issues, such as regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among member states. It said Singh is expected to highlight 'India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace & security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO'. The defence ministry said India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. 'SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states,' it said. Established in 2001, India became a full member of the inter-governmental organisation in 2017 and assumed the rotating chairmanship in 2023. Besides India, the SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajnath Singh to lead India delegation at SCO defence ministers' meeting in China
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting to be held at Qingdao, China from June 25 to 26, 2025, according to the official statement from the Ministry of Defence. Defence minister Rajnath Singh is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO.(PTI) During the meeting, the Defence Ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states. As per the release, the Defence Minister is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision for achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multi-lateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states. SCO is an inter-governmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. The SCO member countries include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'.
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rajnath Singh to participate in SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in China's Qingdao
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting to be held at Qingdao, China from June 25 to 26, 2025, according to the official statement from the Ministry of Defence. During the meeting, the Defence Ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states. As per the release, the Defence Minister is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision for achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multi-lateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states. SCO is an inter-governmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. The SCO member countries include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'. (ANI)
News18
9 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Why India Won't Hold Bilateral Meet With Pakistan At SCO: Decoding Diplomatic Message
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation, including NSA Ajit Doval, at the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting from June 25-26 While both India and Pakistan will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), New Delhi will not hold any bilateral meeting as part of the tactical disengagement from Pakistan in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, said intelligence sources. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation, including National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting to be held at Qingdao, China from June 25 to 26. Pakistan's NSA Asim Malik and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will also attend the SCO meet. Singh is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism & extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting. 'The absence of a bilateral meeting with Pakistan is a deliberate diplomatic signal," said sources. According to them, India's stance is clear — Pakistan will not be entertained unless it ceases cross-border terrorism. The approach follows India's established pattern of using international fora to 'name and shame" Pakistan, as observed during the FATF proceedings and UNSC informal dialogues. New Delhi now considers bilateral talks as potentially rewarding bad behaviour unless Pakistan first demonstrates verifiable efforts to dismantle terror networks, said sources. This viewpoint was underscored by Doval's indirect rebuke during his meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, reinforcing India's stance on the necessity for substantive changes rather than mere diplomatic optics. At the meet, India's strategic focus is on recalibrating its ties with China amid the ongoing, fragile LAC standoff. Both Doval and Singh are engaging China directly, signalling India's view of the SCO as primarily a China-centric platform, not a venue for indulging Pakistan, said sources. 'Although Pakistan is attending the SCO, its credibility and leverage within the organisation are diminishing. Notably, Pakistan skipped SCO meetings held in India in 2023, and its Defence Minister's social media accounts have been banned in India for glorifying terror activities," they said. Key SCO members, including Russia and Central Asian states, are also wary of Islamist spillover, which has led to reduced tolerance for Pakistan's double game, they said. SCO is an inter-governmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
At SCO Defence Ministers' meet in Qingdao, Rajnath likely to discuss regional peace, anti-terror cooperation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting to be held at Qingdao, China from June 25 to 26, 2025. Also read: Doval begins China visit for SCO meet, Rajnath to arrive this week During the meeting, the Defence Ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states. Mr. Singh is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation & connectivity within SCO. Mr. Rajnath Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multi-lateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states. SCO is an inter-governmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'.
