SCO Summit begins today: PM Modi’s bilateral talks with Putin, Xi in focus as security, trade top agenda - Firstpost

**SCO Summit kicks off in Bishkek with security and trade at the fore** The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s 23‑member summit opened today in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, drawing heads of state and foreign ministers from Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and the Central Asian republics. Organisers have placed regional security – particularly the fallout from the Afghan conflict and the rise of extremist groups – and the expansion of intra‑SCO trade as the twin pillars of the agenda. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov opened the session with a call for “collective stability and prosperity,” underscoring the bloc’s growing role as a platform for dialogue amid strained Indo‑Pacific ties.

**PM Modi’s bilateral agenda centres on Russia and Iran, not China** Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bishkek on a two‑day visit, pausing to lay a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the Kyrgyz capital’s Gandhi Memorial, a gesture highlighted by Indian media as a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to non‑violence and democratic values. While a one‑on‑one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was widely anticipated, officials confirmed that no such bilateral session would take place in Bishkek. Instead, Modi’s schedule featured a high‑level dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on energy security, defence cooperation, and the revival of the historic “India‑Russia strategic partnership.” He also met Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Pezeshkian, to discuss the prospects of a “multi‑modal” trade corridor linking the Persian Gulf to Central Asia, an initiative that could diversify India’s supply chains and reduce dependence on maritime routes.

**Implications for India’s strategic calculus** The summit arrives at a moment when New Delhi is navigating a delicate balancing act: deepening ties with Moscow despite Western sanctions, managing a competitive yet indispensable relationship with Beijing, and seeking new economic linkages with Central Asian neighbours. Security discussions are expected to address the lingering threat of cross‑border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, a concern that aligns with India’s own anti‑extremist operations in the region. Trade talks, meanwhile, aim to unlock opportunities in energy, pharmaceuticals, and digital services, leveraging SCO’s collective market of over 300 million consumers. Analysts note that Modi’s choice to forego a direct meeting with Xi while engaging Putin and Tehran signals a pragmatic tilt toward diversifying India’s diplomatic portfolio without overtly antagonising any major power.