Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged in discussions with Defence Ministers from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek. Singh described his meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Defence Minister Major General Mukambetov Ruslan Mustafaevich as highly productive, emphasizing the significance of defence cooperation in strengthening bilateral relations. India and Kyrgyz Republic, as Strategic Partners, share common values of Democracy, Development, Culture, and Heritage.
In a separate meeting, Rajnath Singh and Kazakhstan’s Defence Minister Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov explored avenues to enhance defence collaboration between the two countries. Singh highlighted the importance of deepening defence ties during their interaction. Additionally, Singh met with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov to discuss key aspects of bilateral defence cooperation, underscoring the mutual commitment to strengthening relations.
Furthermore, Singh engaged in discussions with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun on regional security and enhancing defence engagement. The focus was on reinforcing defence cooperation to address common security challenges effectively. Singh also met with Belarus Defence Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin to discuss ways to strengthen defence cooperation between the two nations, highlighting the importance of bilateral military ties.
During the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Rajnath Singh emphasized the urgent need for a unified approach in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism. He stressed the importance of dismantling safe havens for terrorists and rejecting any political justifications for such acts. Singh called for decisive action against those supporting or facilitating terrorism, advocating for a collective effort to ensure regional security and peace.
