Defence cooperation talks as Rajnath Singh meets Tajik counterpart at SCO CHG in Dushanbe

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Tajikistan’s Defence Minister Emomali Sobirzoda in Dushanbe on Monday. The talks happened on the sidelines of the SCO Heads of Government meeting. Both sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. Singh is in Tajikistan for a two-day official visit to represent India.

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On arrival at Dushanbe airport, Singh received a ceremonial welcome. Emomali Sobirzoda greeted Singh at the airport. Sherali Jonon, from Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also received Singh. The visit is linked to the Council of Heads of Government, or CHG, of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Rajnath Singh and SCO defence cooperation talks with Tajikistan

In a post on X, Singh described the meeting as useful. "Had a productive discussion with Defence Minister of Tajikistan in Dushanbe on the sidelines of the SCO Heads of Government Meeting,\" Rajnath said. Singh added, \"We exchanged views on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest with emphasis on capacity building and training,\" he said.

SCO Heads of Government meeting focus areas for India

The CHG meeting is set to stress stronger multilateral cooperation among SCO Member States. The Ministry of External Affairs said key themes include trade, economy, investment, and connectivity. The agenda also includes innovation and cultural-humanitarian exchanges. The MEA outlined these priorities in a press release.

The meeting is also expected to assess progress on ongoing cooperation initiatives. It may consider decisions tied to the SCO’s financial and institutional functioning. The MEA said India stays active across different SCO mechanisms. India also supports regional cooperation through work on startups, innovation, and digital public infrastructure.

The CHG platform will allow India to share views with other SCO Member States. The aim is to advance practical and mutually beneficial cooperation within the organisation. The previous CHG meeting took place in Moscow, Russia, in November 2025. India was represented there by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

With inputs from PTI