Rajnath Singh Holds Bilateral Talks at SCO Defence Meet

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from China, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The discussions focused on maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control, regional security challenges including the West Asia crisis, and expanding defence cooperation.

Singh arrived in Bishkek on Monday and received a traditional ceremonial welcome, including the Kyrgyz delicacy borsok. He began his visit by laying a wreath at Victory Square to honor fallen soldiers. The SCO conclave, attended by defence leaders from member states, addressed international peace, counterterrorism, and measures to mitigate the impact of ongoing conflicts in West Asia on regional stability and energy routes.

In his meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, Singh emphasized maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, amid efforts to stabilize ties strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. The two sides have since conducted diplomatic and military talks, leading to troop...