Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are expected to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be hosted by India next week.
There is no confirmation yet on in-person participation of Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif in the SCO defence ministerial meeting scheduled for April 27 and 28, people familiar with the development said on Saturday (22). He is likely to join the deliberations virtually.
The people said defence ministers of China, Russia and other SCO member countries except Pakistan have confirmed their in-person attendance.
The likely visit by Shangfu would come amid the three-year border standoff in eastern Ladakh. The SCO defence ministerial meeting in New Delhi would be followed by the foreign ministerial meeting of the grouping in Goa on May 4 and 5.
Foreign ministers of all SCO countries, including Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, are scheduled to attend the meeting.
The SCO defence ministers’ meeting is set to delve into various issues relating to regional security, including the threat of terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting will be chaired by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh.
The SCO member countries are India, Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
(PTI)
