**Executive Summary**
On April 28, 2026, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral defence ties with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, while addressing regional security concerns with China and Russia. Key outcomes included the gifting of medical technology to Kyrgyzstan and the completion of military IT infrastructure projects.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Bilateral Engagement with Kyrgyzstan**
* **Medical Aid:** India gifted two indigenously developed "Bhishm Aarogya Maitri Health Cubes" to Kyrgyzstan to support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Search & Rescue (SAR) operations.
* **IT Infrastructure:** Announced the completion of a project providing 12 sets of computer systems each to the IT Centres of the Kyrgyz Military Institute in Bishkek and Military Unit 36806 in Osh.
* **Technical Training:** Successfully installed Wargaming Software and provided On-the-Job Training to the personnel of the Kyrgyz Armed Forces.
**Partnerships with Kazakhstan and Belarus**
* **Kazakhstan:** Discussions emphasized that diverse defence cooperation serves as a critical pillar of the bilateral partnership.
* **Belarus:** India identified capacity building and training as primary areas for developing a mutually beneficial partnership.
**Regional Security and Multilateral Interactions**
* **Security Dialogue:** Held brief interactions with the Defence Ministers of China and Russia to share views on the global security landscape, with a specific focus on developments in West Asia.
* **Diplomatic Protocol:** Participated in a courtesy call on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and a wreath-laying ceremony at Victory Square in Bishkek.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Defence (India)**
**Impact**
The Ministry successfully projected India’s indigenous technological capabilities (Health Cubes and software) and strengthened strategic footprints in Central Asia.
**Action Required**
Ensure the continued support and maintenance of the IT systems and software provided to the Kyrgyz Armed Forces.
**Kyrgyz Armed Forces**
**Impact**
Gained enhanced capabilities in disaster response through Indian medical technology and modernized training infrastructure via new computer systems and wargaming software.
**Action Required**
Integrate the new medical equipment into HADR protocols and utilize the installed wargaming software for personnel training.
**SCO Member States (Kazakhstan, Belarus, China, and Russia)**
**Impact**
These nations engaged in high-level diplomatic dialogue with India, reinforcing bilateral priorities such as training, capacity building, and shared regional security monitoring.
**Action Required**
Follow up on bilateral discussions regarding capacity building and regional security cooperation as identified during the meetings.
Key Entities Referenced
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): International forum under which the Defence Ministers’ Meeting was held to discuss regional security and enhance bilateral defence cooperation.
Rajnath Singh: The Raksha Mantri of India who led bilateral meetings with counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus to strengthen strategic ties.
Bhishm Aarogya Maitri Health Cube: Indigenously developed Indian mobile medical facility gifted to Kyrgyzstan for Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, and Search & Rescue operations.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: The central location for the SCO meeting and the site of various bilateral defence initiatives and project completions announced by India.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri holds bilateral meetings with his
Kyrgyz, Kazakh & Belarusian counterparts in
Bishkek to further strengthen defence
cooperation
Discusses regional & global security with Chinese & Russian
Defence Ministers in view of West Asia situation
Shri Rajnath Singh gifts two Bhishm Aarogya Maitri Health
Cube to Kyrgyzstan for HADR & SAR operations
Posted On: 28 APR 2026 8:57PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with his Kyrgyz, Kazakh and Belarusian
counterparts on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’
Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on April 28, 2026. During the meeting with the Defence Minister of
Kyrgyzstan Major General Mukambetov Ruslan Mustafaevich, both sides discussed ways to strengthen
the existing bilateral defence cooperation.Raksha Mantri gifted the two Bhishm Aarogya Maitri Health Cube to the Kyrgyz side, which have been
indigenously developed in India to ensure Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and Search &
Rescue during natural calamitiesShri Rajnath Singh also announced the completion of the project of provisioning of 12 sets of Computer
Systems each at IT Centres of Kyrgyz Military Institute, Bishkek and Military Unit 36806- Osh, followed
by the successful installation of Wargaming Software and On-the-Job Training of the Personnel of Kyrgyz
Armed Forces.
In his meeting with the Minister of Defence of Kazakhstan, Raksha Mantri emphasised that defence
cooperation between the two countries encompasses diverse sectors and it forms an important pillar of
bilateral partnership.During the meeting with the Minister of Defence of Belarus Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin, Shri
Rajnath Singh underlined that India attaches high priority to developing mutually beneficial partnership
with Belarus and identified capacity building & training as among the major areas of cooperation.
In addition, Raksha Mantri briefly interacted with Defence Minister of China Admiral Dong Jun and
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. During the discussions, the Ministers shared views on the
regional and global security landscape in particular the developments in West Asia.Earlier, Shri Rajnath Singh & other Defence Ministers paid a courtesy call on Kyrgyz President Mr Sadyr
Zhaparov.The Defence Ministers also laid wreaths at the Victory Square in Bishkek.
***
VK/Savvy
(Release ID: 2256403) Visitor Counter : 203