Rajnath Singh arrives in Bishkek for SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 27–28, 2026, with India's Defence Minister l...

What Happened

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 27–28, 2026, with India's Defence Minister leading the Indian delegation.
The meeting's agenda centred on counter-terrorism strategies, evolving regional security challenges in the Eurasian space, joint military exercises, and deepening intelligence-sharing mechanisms among SCO member states.
India is expected to push its "zero tolerance for terrorism" position — a long-standing Indian formulation that calls for no distinction between terrorist organisations based on their targets or ideological affiliation.
Deliberations also covered the geopolitical situation in West Asia and its spillover effects on regional stability, given the ongoing conflict context.
Defence cooperation frameworks including joint exercises, military-technical assistance, and SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) were on the agenda for review and strengthening.

Static Topic Bridges

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — Overview

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation that has evolved from a confidence-building forum into one of the world's largest regional groupings by population and territory.

Founded: June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China — evolved from the Shanghai Five (1996: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), with Uzbekistan joining at founding.
Founding members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (6 members in 2001)
India and Pakistan: Admitted as full members in June 2017 at the Astana (Kazakhstan) Summit — expanding to 8 members.
Iran: Admitted as full member in July 2023 (Tehran Summit).
Belarus: Admitted as full member in July 2024 — expanding to 10 members.
Current membership (10 states): China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus.
Headquarters: Beijing, China (Secretariat); RATS headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The SCO covers approximately 40% of the world's population and over 22% of global GDP.

Connection to this news: As a full member since 2017, India participates in SCO Defence Ministers' meetings as part of its multilateral security engagement, using the platform to promote its counter-terrorism doctrine and build security partnerships with Central Asian states.

Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)

RATS is the permanent specialised body of the SCO dedicated to coordinating counter-terrorism, counter-separatism, and counter-extremism efforts among member states — addressing what the SCO calls the "three evils."

Established: June 2004, at the SCO Summit in Tashkent; headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Three Evils Doctrine: SCO's conceptual framework targeting terrorism, separatism, and extremism — the three threats considered most destabilising to the Eurasian regional order.
RATS facilitates information exchange on terrorist groups, coordinates cross-border counter-terrorism operations, and maintains databases of designated terrorist organisations.
Joint exercises: SCO member states conduct "Peace Mission" joint military exercises focused on counter-terrorism scenarios — India has participated since 2007.
India has used RATS mechanisms to flag cross-border terrorist infrastructure while navigating the complex dynamic of Pakistan's co-membership.

Connection to this news: India's advocacy for "zero tolerance for terrorism" at the Bishkek meeting is directly aimed at strengthening RATS mandates and closing gaps that allow state actors to distinguish between "good" and "bad" terrorist groups based on geopolitical alignment.

India–Pakistan Dynamic Within SCO

India and Pakistan are both full SCO members — a unique situation where two nuclear-armed adversaries participate in the same multilateral security organisation, creating both opportunities and tensions.

SCO provides a diplomatic channel for India-Pakistan engagement in a multilateral format, reducing the political cost of direct bilateral contact.
Consensus-based decision-making means India can block or soften language on sensitive issues, while Pakistan has used the forum to raise Kashmir-related concerns.
India has used SCO meetings to reiterate its counter-terrorism positions, particularly regarding Pakistan-based groups, framing it as a multilateral security concern rather than a bilateral grievance.
SCO's Central Asian membership (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) generally aligns with India on counter-terrorism given shared concerns about groups operating in Afghanistan and the broader region.

Connection to this news: The Defence Ministers' meeting in Bishkek takes place against the backdrop of ongoing India-Pakistan tensions; India's zero-tolerance position is a consistent multilateral pressure point, while the SCO format provides diplomatic cover for engagement.

Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan's Role in SCO

Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is a recurring venue for SCO summits and ministerial meetings, reflecting Kyrgyzstan's central position as an original SCO founding member and key Central Asian partner.

Bishkek hosted the SCO Summit in 2019 where several key resolutions on connectivity and counter-terrorism were adopted.
Kyrgyzstan shares borders with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — placing it at the crossroads of the Central Asian security architecture.
India–Kyrgyzstan relations include defence training cooperation; India trains Kyrgyz military officers at Indian defence institutions.
For India, Central Asian engagement via SCO is part of its "Connect Central Asia" policy and the broader strategy of deepening ties with the region's five republics.

Connection to this news: Hosting the Defence Ministers' meeting reflects Kyrgyzstan's active role in SCO multilateral security processes; for India, Bishkek is a venue to reinforce Central Asian partnerships that complement its INSTC and Chabahar connectivity goals.

Key Facts & Data

SCO founded: June 15, 2001 (Shanghai, China)
SCO current members (10): China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus
India & Pakistan joined SCO: June 2017 (Astana Summit, Kazakhstan)
Iran joined SCO: July 2023
Belarus joined SCO: July 2024
SCO Secretariat: Beijing, China
RATS headquarters: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
RATS established: June 2004 (Tashkent SCO Summit)
Three Evils: Terrorism, Separatism, Extremism
SCO population coverage: ~40% of world's population
SCO GDP share: ~22% of global GDP
Meeting venue: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, April 27–28, 2026
India's stated position: Zero tolerance for terrorism — no distinction between terrorist groups
Joint exercises platform: "Peace Mission" series (counter-terrorism focused)