No Asif–Rajnath Meeting at SCO, Confirms Foreign Office Amid Media Buzz

ISLAMABAD, June 26, 2025 — The Foreign Office of Pakistan has dismissed media speculation regarding a potential meeting between Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China.

In an official statement released Wednesday, the Foreign Office confirmed that Khawaja Asif is attending the SCO event as head of the Pakistani delegation but clarified that no bilateral meeting is scheduled with the Indian Defence Minister.

The clarification came amid reports by Turkish media suggesting the possibility of a first face-to-face interaction between the defence ministers of the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbours since their recent military standoff in April and May.

According to reports, Rajnath Singh is also in Qingdao and is expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from China, Russia, and other SCO member states, further fueling speculation.

The two-day SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting will deliberate on regional and global security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and military relations among member countries. The forum brings together defence chiefs from China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian republics under a platform aimed at enhancing strategic coordination.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Lt Gen Asim Malik participated in the 20th meeting of the Secretaries of Security Councils of SCO member states in Beijing on Tuesday. During his engagements, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasizing the country’s role as a net regional stabilizer. He also held bilateral discussions with key SCO counterparts.

The diplomatic exchanges follow a tense period of military confrontation between Pakistan and India, which erupted after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, IIOJK, in April that killed 26 Indian tourists. India hastily blamed Pakistan and launched unprovoked cross-border strikes. Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, during which six Indian Air Force fighter jets—including three Rafales—were downed, along with dozens of drones.

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The confrontation lasted 87 hours and concluded on May 10, following a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States. Since then, both Islamabad and New Delhi have been engaging in a diplomatic push to shape global narratives around the conflict.

As tensions continue to simmer beneath the surface, the SCO platform is being closely watched for any potential thaw—or escalation—in South Asia’s fragile security landscape.