Rajnath Singh Lands in Tajikistan for High-Stakes SCO Summit
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Dushanbe for the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting to strengthen regional ties.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has arrived in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, to represent India at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The high-level gathering, scheduled for October 19-20, aims to bolster regional ties and coordinate strategic goals among member nations.
A Warm Welcome in Dushanbe
Upon his arrival at the airport, Minister Rajnath Singh was greeted with a ceremonial welcome. He was received by his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Sobirzoda, and Sherali Jonon, the Head of the Asia Pacific Division at Tajikistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sharing his journey on X (formerly Twitter), the Defence Minister expressed his readiness for the diplomatic engagement, stating that he was looking forward to representing India's interests at the SCO Heads of Government (HoG) meeting.
Key Agenda: From Digital Infrastructure to Connectivity
According to the Ministry of Defence, the discussions in Dushanbe will center on several critical pillars of cooperation. The member states are expected to focus on:
- Connectivity and Economy: Strengthening trade routes and economic ties.
- Innovation and Investment: Exploring new avenues for financial growth and technological advancement.
- Cultural and People-to-People Ties: Enhancing social bonds and mutual understanding between citizens of member states.
- Institutional Review: Assessing the progress of the bloc's financial and institutional frameworks.
India continues to play a proactive role within the SCO. New Delhi has been actively contributing through initiatives involving digital public infrastructure, the promotion of start-ups, and various cultural exchanges, all aimed at creating practical and mutually beneficial outcomes for the member nations.
The Broader SCO Context
This meeting follows the previous Council of Heads of Government session held in Moscow on November 18, 2025, where India was represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Looking further ahead, the spotlight shifts toward 2027, when Pakistan is scheduled to host the SCO Summit. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has already indicated that Pakistan is obligated to invite all member states, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Scale of the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a massive geopolitical entity, covering nearly 36 million square kilometres. It consists of ten member states: Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
With a combined population of over 3.4 billion people, the bloc is an economic powerhouse, representing approximately 25 per cent of the global GDP and more than 15 per cent of world trade. The organization also maintains a wide network of partners, including:
- Observer States: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
- Dialogue Partners: A group of 15 nations including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.