Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reaffirmed New Delhi’s steadfast support for peace, security and stability in Afghanistan while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China.

He emphasized India’s ongoing humanitarian aid and developmental contributions, highlighting India’s role as Afghanistan’s “largest regional development partner” through continued capacity-building efforts.

“India has been consistent and steadfast in its policy in support of peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. Our immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance to Afghan people and contributing to Afghanistan’s overall developmental needs. As Afghanistan’s largest regional development partner, India continues to implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people,” he said.

Singh also stressed the importance of collective action to address global issues such as terrorism, cyber threats, and hybrid warfare, calling for a unified and cooperative approach within the SCO framework. He urged member countries to work together to ensure regional peace and meet the expectations of their citizens.

“India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. We should collectively aspire to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of our people as well as tackle today’s challenges. We must all be in lockstep in our endeavour in strengthening stability and security in our neighbourhood,” he noted.

On regional connectivity, Singh reaffirmed India’s intention to strengthen ties with Central Asia while respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity outlined in the SCO charter. He also underscored the value of reformed multilateralism, stating that global challenges require shared responsibility and collaboration among nations.

The SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting, held from June 25–26, brings together defence chiefs from member nations to discuss regional security, counter-terrorism strategies, and defence cooperation.