Pakistan Defence Minister to skip Delhi trip, attend SCO meet in virtual mode

Islamabad [Pakistan], April 25 : Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is set to skip his India visit and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Orgsation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting virtually.

Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported citing sources that Asif will join the meeting via video link, despite India inviting the Pakist defence minister as well as other SCO members for the meeting.

The SCO defence ministers' two-day gathering will begin on April 27 in the nation's capital.

Recently, Pakistan announced the participation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto in the SCO Foreign Ministers' meet which is all set to take place in Goa on May 4-5. Pakistan's foreign minister would be making his first trip to India since 2011.

The Shanghai Cooperation Orgsation (SCO) is a multinational group that was founded in 2001. Along with India, the SCO also has as members China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO Defence Ministers Meeting will also include participation from two observer nations, Belarus and Iran, in addition to the member states.

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu will make his maiden visit to India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Orgsation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting planned to be held this week, said the Chinese Defence Ministry, The Global Times reported.

According to Global Times, the Chinese Defence Ministry said that from Thursday to Friday (April 27-28), the Chinese Defence Minister will take part in SCO and will make a speech and meet with the head of delegations from other countries.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from participating countries on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meet.

The Defence Ministers will discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and effective multilateralism.

The Defence ministers of China and Russia will also take part in the event.

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