The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has brought the defence ministers of Pakistan and India into the same room for the first time since their recent military tensions. Khawaja Asif and Rajnath Singh are both attending the SCO Defence Ministers’ Summit in Qingdao, China, raising the possibility of a direct meeting between the two.
The event, hosted by Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, began in China’s Shandong province and brings together key security stakeholders from across the region. While no bilateral engagement has been officially announced, the presence of both ministers at the same forum has drawn international attention, especially given the backdrop of heightened regional tensions.
On the opening day, Minister Dong held separate meetings with his counterparts from Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. He underscored the importance of international fairness, strategic balance, and cooperation in the face of global security challenges.
The defence summit was preceded by a high-level SCO security council meeting, where Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) participated on behalf of the country. During the visit, the NSA engaged in discussions with Chinese officials and other attendees, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful and stable region.
The NSA reiterated Pakistan’s vision of being a ‘net regional stabiliser’ and stressed the importance of constructive dialogue and collective security. These views were mirrored by China’s Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, who proposed a five-point plan for enhanced law enforcement coordination, better counter-terrorism mechanisms, and deeper multilateral cooperation across SCO member states.
The Qingdao summit could serve as an essential platform not just for strengthening multilateral ties, but potentially also for initiating long-overdue dialogue between India and Pakistan at the ministerial level.