ISLAMABAD (PEN) : For the first time since last month’s tense military standoff, the defence ministers of Pakistan and India are both attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ summit in Qingdao, China, sparking speculation about a possible bilateral encounter.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are participating in the two-day SCO defence conclave hosted by Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Shandong province. Although officials have downplayed the chances of a formal one-on-one meeting, their joint presence at the forum—the first since the recent Marka-e-Haq flare-up—has raised hopes for informal engagement or backchannel talks on the sidelines.
SCO Focuses on Regional Security and Cooperation
The summit includes defence ministers from key regional players such as Russia, China, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus. On the opening day, host Defence Minister Dong held bilateral meetings with several counterparts, including Khawaja Asif. China stressed the importance of upholding international fairness, strategic stability, and strengthening regional cooperation to counter rising transnational threats.
Chinese officials have consistently urged SCO member states to resist foreign interference and enhance collective security frameworks. These discussions follow the recent meeting of SCO national security advisers, where Pakistan’s NSA reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional peace and described Pakistan as a “net security stabiliser.”
Chinese Minister for Public Security Wang Xiaohong outlined a five-point plan calling for “true multilateralism,” enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation, and efforts to combat transnational crime while opposing external intervention.
Potential for Informal Dialogue Amid Long-Standing Tensions
The SCO summit’s agenda centers on pressing regional issues such as terrorism, military collaboration, and geopolitical stability. Historically, Pakistan and India have used multilateral settings like the SCO to engage indirectly due to strained bilateral relations.
While no formal meeting between Khawaja Asif and Rajnath Singh is currently scheduled, analysts view their simultaneous attendance as a notable chance for informal communication. The last defence-level contact between the two countries at an SCO forum occurred in 2018 in Russia.
The SCO, comprising China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian nations, has emerged as a key platform for fostering dialogue on security and economic integration. Although both Islamabad and New Delhi have refrained from commenting on possible diplomatic overtures during this conference, experts believe that even symbolic interaction could lay groundwork for future talks amid ongoing tensions.
