Rajnath Singh to lead SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting today

All eyes have been on India’s chairmanship in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit as well as the G20 Summit. The SCO Meet is considered to be of vital importance when it comes to the stability, security, and prosperity of the South Asian region. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be chairing a key meeting with his counterparts today in New Delhi. Among those who will be in attendance are Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, China’s Li Shangfu, Iran’s Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei, Tajikistan’s Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, and Kazakhstan’s Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov.  

While doubts were raised about whether SCO member Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif would participate in this meet or not, it is being said that he would be present virtually. The security situation in Afghanistan will be among the key issues of this meeting, along with resolving other geopolitical issues and boosting economic cooperation in this region. Combating terrorism is another key issue discussed in this bloc, but it is highly unlikely that India’s bilateral problems with China and Pakistan will be highlighted on this forum by Rajnath Singh.