Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, held a series of bilateral meetings on Thursday with his counterparts from Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and China.
In each of these meetings, Singh briefed his fellow ministers on the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s response through Operation Sindoor.
India launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terror networks following the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed.
Singh underscored India’s right to self-defence and reaffirmed its resolve to act decisively against terrorism.
Strengthening bilateral defence ties
During his talks with the Defence Ministers of Belarus, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, Singh focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as capacity building, military training, technical collaboration, and education.
Enriching interaction with the Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin in Qingdao. pic.twitter.com/J2foTCIHLz
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 26, 2025
The ministers agreed to expand engagements in these spheres, recognising the shared interest in maintaining peace and security.
Singh also emphasised India’s significant strides in indigenous defence production and its growing self-reliance in critical military technologies.
He called for deeper collaboration in technical and industrial domains.
In a separate meeting, Singh held in-depth discussions with China’s Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun.
The two sides addressed issues along the India-China border and the broader need for peace and tranquillity.
Singh stressed the importance of sustained diplomatic and military dialogue to resolve complex border issues and restore normalcy in bilateral ties.
He called for a permanent and structured engagement to address disengagement and de-escalation concerns, urging the revival of established mechanisms for managing the border.
Singh also highlighted the need to rebuild trust eroded during the 2020 standoff by translating intent into concrete actions on the ground.
Towards stability & regional cooperation
Both sides agreed to continue consultations through existing frameworks to make progress on disengagement, border management, and eventual delimitation.
Singh noted that cooperation between India and China is essential not only for bilateral peace but also for wider stability in Asia and the global order.
India’s Regional Security Commitment
The Ministry of Defence stated that Singh provided a detailed briefing on the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor.
His engagements in Qingdao reflect India’s broader commitment to regional security, counterterrorism, and strategic partnerships within the SCO framework.
These discussions reaffirm India’s proactive stance on ensuring national security while fostering collaboration with neighbouring and strategic partner countries.
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