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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19-20, as New Delhi seeks to sustain its engagement with a key Eurasian grouping amid continuing geopolitical and security challenges in the region.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation among member states in trade, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural exchanges. It will also review ongoing initiatives and consider decisions concerning the organisation’s financial and institutional functioning, the Defence Ministry said.
Beyond its economic agenda, the meeting offers India an important platform to engage China, Russia and the Central Asian republics on issues affecting regional stability and its wider strategic interests. For New Delhi, participation in the SCO is part of a broader effort to maintain diplomatic space across competing power centres while pursuing a multipolar regional order.
India’s engagement with the grouping, however, comes with strategic complexities. While Russia remains an important defence and strategic partner, relations with China continue to be shaped by unresolved border issues and wider regional competition. New Delhi also has concerns over cross-border terrorism and the security implications of developments in Afghanistan. These challenges make sustained engagement with regional partners important, even as India remains cautious about initiatives that could undermine its interests.
Connectivity and economic cooperation are also significant considerations for India, which has sought stronger links with Central Asia while raising concerns over connectivity projects that disregard sovereignty. The SCO provides a forum to pursue regional economic engagement, although differences among member states continue to constrain the organisation’s ability to act cohesively on sensitive security and geopolitical issues.
India has been active in SCO mechanisms covering start-ups, innovation, digital public infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. The Dushanbe meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to exchange views with other members on advancing practical and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The previous meeting of the Council of Heads of Government was held in Moscow on November 18, 2025, where India was represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Team BharatShakti
