Rajnath Singh Heads to Kyrgyzstan for SCO Defence Ministers Meet

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday (April 27, 2026) left for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, to attend the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting on Tuesday (April 28), when the forum would deliberate on regional and global security issues.

The current West Asia conflict and its implications to the world is likely to prominently figure in the discussions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, according to Indian Ministry of Defence officials with knowledge of the agenda.

During the meeting, the Defence Ministers of various member countries will “deliberate upon several issues concerning the defence and security of the region,” a MoD statement Monday (April 27) said.

“Issues related to international peace, counter-terrorism, and defence cooperation among SCO member states will also be discussed,” it added.

This year’s SCO meeting is taking place against the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil being witnessed due to the situation in West Asia, officials said.

“The SCO, one of the largest political and economic organisations of the region, may discuss measures to reduce the impact of the ongoing conflict,” they added.

At the meeting, Rajnath Singh would highlight India’s commitment toward global peace, amidst the prevailing global security challenges, and underline New Delhi’s consistent stance on zero tolerance for terrorism and extremism.

On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Rajnath Singh is slated to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from some participating countries.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China. Its membership includes India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.