Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor holds SCO sideline talks in Bishkek, meets Iran, Kyrgyzstan
Synopsis
India's Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor used the SCO's Bishkek security summit to hold back-to-back bilateral talks with Iranian and Kyrgyz counterparts — a quiet but deliberate diplomatic push that follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's pointed invocation of Operation Sindoor at the same venue last month. India is systematically using the SCO platform to press its counter-terrorism agenda directly to member states.
Key Takeaways
Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor attended the SCO 21st Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils in Bishkek on 13–14 May 2026 .
He met Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri Kani of Iran's SNSC on 13 May , discussing bilateral and regional issues.
Kapoor also held talks with Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Adilet Orozbekov on deepening bilateral ties.
He was received by Kyrgyz First Deputy Security Council Secretary Melis Satybaldiev and Indian Ambassador Birender Singh Yadav .
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had previously addressed the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, citing Operation Sindoor as proof of India's resolve against terrorism.
Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor conducted a series of high-level bilateral engagements in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) 21st Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils held from 13 to 14 May 2026. The meetings underscored India's active diplomatic outreach within the SCO framework at a time of heightened regional security concerns.
Key Bilateral Meetings
Kapoor met his Iranian counterpart, Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy for International Affairs at Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), on 13 May 2026. According to a post on X by the Indian Embassy in Bishkek, the discussions centred on bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern.
Separately, Kapoor held talks with Adilet Orozbekov, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan, with both sides focusing on deepening the bilateral partnership between the two countries.
Arrival and Reception
Deputy NSA Kapoor arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, 13 May to attend the SCO security council secretaries' summit. He was received upon arrival by Melis Satybaldiev, First Deputy Secretary of Kyrgyzstan's Security Council, and Birender Singh Yadav, India's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan.
India's Broader SCO Posture
Kapoor's visit follows a significant intervention by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek last month, where Singh called for a collective and uncompromising approach to terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Singh explicitly invoked Operation Sindoor, stating it 'demonstrated India's firm resolve that terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment.'
Singh also warned the SCO grouping against selective approaches, asserting that state-sponsored cross-border terrorism directly undermines national sovereignty. 'By tackling terrorism, separatism, and extremism without exception, we transform regional security from a challenge into a cornerstone for peace and prosperity,' he said.
Why This Matters
India's sustained diplomatic presence at successive SCO security forums — from the Defence Ministers' Meeting to the Secretaries of Security Councils summit — signals a deliberate strategy to shape the bloc's counter-terrorism agenda. This comes amid ongoing regional tensions and India's heightened focus on cross-border security threats. Notably, the SCO grouping includes Pakistan, making India's firm articulation of its anti-terrorism stance particularly pointed within this forum.
Point of View
Now the Secretaries of Security Councils meeting — are not coincidental. New Delhi is using the SCO platform strategically: to press the counter-terrorism case directly to states, including those with complicated histories on the issue. The explicit invocation of Operation Sindoor in a multilateral security setting is a calibrated signal, not just rhetoric. What remains to be seen is whether India's bilateral engagements — particularly with Iran — translate into concrete alignment on the definition of state-sponsored terrorism, or remain confined to diplomatic courtesies.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor's visit to Bishkek?
Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor travelled to Bishkek to attend the SCO 21st Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils held on 13–14 May 2026. On the sidelines, he held bilateral talks with Iranian and Kyrgyz security officials to discuss regional security and bilateral issues.
Who did Pavan Kapoor meet at the SCO summit in Bishkek?
Kapoor met Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy for International Affairs at Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Adilet Orozbekov, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan. Both meetings focused on bilateral ties and regional security developments.
What is the SCO Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils?
It is a high-level security forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation where national security council secretaries from member states convene to coordinate on regional security, counter-terrorism, and strategic issues. The 21st edition was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in May 2026.
What did Defence Minister Rajnath Singh say at the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek?
Singh called for a collective, uncompromising approach to terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and warned against double standards. He cited Operation Sindoor as evidence of India's resolve, stating that 'terrorism epicentres are no longer immune to justifiable punishment.'
Why is India's participation in SCO security forums significant?
India uses SCO platforms to press its counter-terrorism agenda among a grouping that also includes Pakistan. Sustained high-level Indian representation at successive Bishkek forums signals a deliberate strategy to shape the bloc's security posture on cross-border terrorism and state-sponsored threats.
