Jaishankar meets SCO counterparts in Bishkek, holds talks with China, Russia, Iran
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, EAM Jaishankar held back-to-back meetings with five foreign ministers — China’s Wang Yi, Russia’s Lavrov, Iran’s Araghchi, Uzbekistan’s Saidov, and Tajikistan’s Muhriddin — in a single day, showcasing India’s strategy of using multilateral platforms for high-density bilateral diplomacy.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with five foreign ministers on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek on 1 September .
He met Chinese FM Wang Yi , weeks after their Manila discussions in July on border stability and bilateral ties.
Brief interactions with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov and Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi followed a full bilateral with Lavrov the previous week.
Jaishankar met Uzbek FM Bakhtiyor Saidov , building on Saidov’s three-day visit to New Delhi last month that covered energy, trade, and defence.
Talks with Tajik FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin rounded out India’s bilateral engagements at the summit.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from China, Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 1 September. The engagements focused on deepening bilateral cooperation and addressing key regional and global challenges.
Jaishankar-Wang Yi Meeting
The EAM met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, posting on X: “Good to meet Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China today in Bishkek.” The meeting follows extensive discussions the two held in Manila in July, where they addressed bilateral relations, border stability, and major regional and global developments. The back-to-back engagements signal a sustained diplomatic channel between New Delhi and Beijing at the foreign minister level.
Brief Interactions with Lavrov and Araghchi
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met Jaishankar on the summit sidelines. “A quick catch-up with FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi of Iran and FM Sergei Lavrov of Russia on sidelines of SCO Summit 2026,” the EAM posted on X. Notably, Jaishankar had held a wide-ranging conversation with Lavrov just the previous week, covering bilateral cooperation, regional hotspots, global challenges, and multilateral issues. His last meeting with Araghchi was in New Delhi in May, where the two discussed the evolving situation in West Asia and its broader implications.
India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership Reviewed
Jaishankar also met Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Bishkek, sharing a photograph of the two exchanging a warm greeting. “Nice to meet Bakhtiyor Saidov, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan in Bishkek today,” he wrote on X. The meeting came just weeks after Saidov’s three-day visit to New Delhi, during which the two conducted a detailed review of the bilateral strategic partnership with a focus on energy, infrastructure, trade, defence, education, and culture, as well as regional challenges and multilateral cooperation.
Talks with Tajikistan
Rounding out his bilateral engagements, the EAM held discussions with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin. “A good discussion on sidelines of SCO Summit with FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan,” Jaishankar noted on X. The SCO platform continues to serve as a critical venue for India to maintain active diplomatic contact with Central Asian neighbours and major powers simultaneously.
India’s SCO Diplomacy in Focus
The flurry of bilateral engagements at Bishkek underscores India’s strategy of leveraging multilateral summits for intensive, concurrent diplomacy. This is particularly significant given the complex and often competing relationships India manages within the SCO framework — balancing ties with China amid unresolved border sensitivities, sustaining engagement with Russia during the ongoing Ukraine conflict, and maintaining economic and connectivity dialogue with Central Asian nations. With the next round of SCO-level interactions expected later in the year, New Delhi’s diplomatic calendar remains dense.
Point of View
A Russia under Western sanctions, and Central Asian states that New Delhi is courting for connectivity and trade. The frequency of Jaishankar-Wang Yi meetings — Manila in July, Bishkek in September — suggests a structured normalisation effort, even if the border question remains unresolved. What mainstream coverage underplays is the Uzbekistan thread: back-to-back meetings within weeks, covering energy, infrastructure, and defence, points to a quietly intensifying Central Asia pivot that could outlast the SCO headline cycle.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did EAM Jaishankar meet SCO foreign ministers?
Jaishankar held all five bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 1 September. The engagements covered bilateral cooperation, regional security, and multilateral issues.
Did Jaishankar meet Chinese FM Wang Yi at the SCO Summit?
Yes, Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bishkek on 1 September. The two had previously held extensive talks in Manila in July, focusing on border stability and bilateral relations.
What was discussed in Jaishankar’s meeting with Russia’s Lavrov?
The Bishkek interaction was described as a brief catch-up. A more detailed conversation between Jaishankar and Russian FM Sergei Lavrov had taken place the previous week, covering bilateral cooperation, regional hotspots, global challenges, and multilateral issues.
What is the significance of Jaishankar’s meeting with Uzbekistan’s FM?
The Bishkek meeting with Uzbek FM Bakhtiyor Saidov followed Saidov’s three-day visit to New Delhi last month, during which the two reviewed their strategic partnership across energy, infrastructure, trade, defence, education, and culture. The back-to-back engagements indicate deepening India-Uzbekistan ties.
Which countries did Jaishankar meet at the 26th SCO Summit?
Jaishankar met foreign ministers from China, Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek on 1 September 2026.
