On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in China’s Qingdao, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Belarus, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Singh met with Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Victor Khrenin, Tajik Defence Minister Lieutenant General Sobrizoda Emomali Abdurakhim, and Kazakh Defence Minister Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov, with a focus on strengthening defence cooperation and exploring new avenues of collaboration.
During the meetings, Singh emphasised the importance of sustained engagement in defence partnerships and highlighted India’s rapid progress in defence production, particularly in achieving self-reliance across key sectors. He encouraged deeper collaboration in technical areas, defence manufacturing, and innovation.
Singh also briefed his counterparts on the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, and on Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror initiative aimed at dismantling cross-border terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
All three ministers acknowledged the importance of continued cooperation and agreed to enhance collaboration in areas such as capacity building, joint training, military education, and technical cooperation. The discussions underscored mutual commitment to strengthening defence ties and promoting regional security.
