Qingdao [China], June 27 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Tajikistan, Belarus and Kazakhstan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in China's Qingdao and briefed them regarding the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor launched by India to dismantle terrorist networks in Pakistan.

During his meeting with Belarus Defence Minister Lieutenant General Victor Khrenin, Tajikistan Defence Minister Lieutenant General Sobrizoda Emomali Abdurakhim and Kazakhstan Defence Minister Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov on Thursday, Rajnath Singh highlighted the importance of continued engagement in defence cooperation and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in areas of technical collaboration.

In a press release, Ministry of Defence stated, 'He highlighted the rapid advances made by India in the field of defence production and achieving self-reliance in meeting its defence requirements in several key areas.'

'Shri Rajnath Singh also briefed his counterparts on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor launched by India aimed at dismantling the terrorist networks in Pakistan,' it added.

According to the press release, the leaders agreed to continue cooperation to enhance capacity building, training, military technical cooperation, military education, amongst other areas of common interest.

In a post on X, Rajnath Singh stated, 'Enriching interaction with the Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin in Qingdao.'

Rajnath Singh arrived in China's Qingdao on Thursday to attend SCO Defence Ministers Meeting. Upon his arrival, Rajnath Singh was welcomed by the Chinese Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun.

India declined to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in China on Thursday, which, according to sources, did not have any mention of the dastardly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam but mentioned incidents in Pakistan.

According to government sources, Rajnath Singh did not sign the SCO document as India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document, as there was no mention of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, there was mention of the incidents that happened in Pakistan, so India refused to sign the joint declaration, and there is no joint communique either. (ANI)