Pakistan, India defense ministers likely to meet at SCO

(Web Desk): Pakistan and India’s defense ministers are expected to come face-to-face for the first time since last month’s military clash, during a two-day meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) officials set to take place in eastern China.

According to a report by Turkish news outlet TRT Global, the meeting will begin on Wednesday in the Chinese city of Qingdao, and will be hosted by Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun.

A statement from China’s Ministry of Defense noted that the meeting comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly in the Middle East.

The Pakistani delegation will be led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, while Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will also attend with a high-level delegation. He is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of China, Russia, and other participating countries.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have persisted since a military skirmish in the disputed Kashmir region in May 2025.

The SCO meeting will focus on regional and global security, counterterrorism cooperation, and military coordination among member states.

China, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the SCO, stated that the gathering aims to enhance mutual military trust and contribute to regional peace and stability.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded in 2001, includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus as member states.

The organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is considered a central body in the field of security cooperation.

Under China’s presidency, this year’s theme is: "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action."