Following the recent military conflict between Pakistan and India, the first face-to-face meeting between the defense ministers of both countries is likely to take place soon.
According to Turkish media, the meeting between the Pakistani and Indian defense ministers could happen on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit being held in China.
The Pakistani delegation is being led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who will participate in the summit, while Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also expected to attend the SCO meeting with his delegation.
Turkish media further reported that Rajnath Singh is scheduled to hold meetings with the defense ministers of China, Russia, and other member countries.
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has arrived in China to attend the SCO summit.
In a separate update, Pakistan’s PM and Saudi Crown Prince held a telephone conversation, focusing on bilateral and regional matters, including the Hajj and ceasefire developments.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent his warmest regards to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi Arabian people, congratulating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on overseeing and successfully completing the Hajj 2025.
Additionally, he conveyed his sincere appreciation to the Saudi government for its kind hospitality to the pilgrims from Pakistan who took part in this year’s pilgrimage.
PM Shehbaz praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region during the recent escalation between India and Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during the call.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman praised Islamabad’s positive contribution to peace efforts during the crisis and conveyed gratitude for Pakistan’s support of Saudi Arabia.
