Islamabad, June 25, 2025 – Pakistan has officially dismissed media speculation regarding a meeting between its Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh during the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China.
The Foreign Office issued a statement confirming Asif’s participation. However, they clarified that no bilateral meeting with the Indian Defence Minister is scheduled.
Despite reports from Turkish media suggesting the possibility of the first face-to-face encounter between the defence ministers of the two South Asian nations since their recent military standoff, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has settled the matter.
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Government sources confirmed Asif’s arrival in China for the two-day SCO meeting, which commenced today. The Indian Defence Minister is also present at the forum, with reports indicating his scheduled meetings with defence ministers from China, Russia, and other nations.
The SCO meeting is set to address critical issues including regional and global security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and military ties. This development comes after a period of heightened military confrontation between Pakistan and India, which saw cross-border strikes and the downing of Indian fighter jets by Pakistan in May, ultimately leading to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor, Lt Gen Asim Malik, also attended an SCO meeting in Beijing, emphasizing Pakistan’s desire for a stable and peaceful neighborhood.
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