Modi meets Armenia's Pashinyan at SCO Summit in Bishkek, eyes defence and pharma ties
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, PM Modi met Armenian PM Pashinyan and thanked Yerevan for helping evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Iran — a quiet but telling signal of Armenia's rising strategic value to New Delhi. The meeting covered defence, pharma, and tech cooperation, pointing to a relationship that is quietly expanding beyond its modest baseline.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi met Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan in Bishkek on 31 August on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit .
The two leaders discussed cooperation in defence, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, culture, and education .
Modi thanked Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Iran during the West Asia tensions.
Jaishankar , NSA Ajit Doval , and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were present at the talks.
Modi is on a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO Summit and the opening of the 6th World Nomad Games .
Modi also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his Bishkek memorial — a statue he unveiled during his 2015 visit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday, 31 August, with the two leaders focusing on deepening cooperation across defence, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, culture, and education, as well as the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
Key Developments from the Bilateral Meeting
The talks were attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, among other senior officials. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the two leaders 'discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across various areas including defence, economic, pharma, science and technology, culture and education' and 'exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia.'
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's intent to 'work closely with Armenia to further deepen and expand bilateral ties,' according to the MEA.
Armenia's Role in Evacuating Indians from Iran
A notable moment in the meeting was Modi's expression of gratitude toward Yerevan for its assistance in facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Iran during the recent escalation of tensions in West Asia. The acknowledgement underscores Armenia's growing strategic value to India as a transit and diplomatic partner in a volatile region.
The conversation also covered expanding cooperation in trade, defence, technology, and people-to-people exchanges — areas that have seen limited but steady growth between the two countries in recent years.
Modi's Broader Engagements in Bishkek
The Modi-Pashinyan meeting was one of several bilateral interactions on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Earlier on Monday morning, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in Bishkek — a statue he himself had unveiled during a previous visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2015. 'In Bishkek this morning, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the city. Gandhi Ji's thoughts will always have an unparalleled impact on our minds,' Modi posted on X.
Modi also met members of the Indian diaspora and community groups, including Yoga enthusiasts, academics, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) alumni, and researchers. He noted that one of the Yoga practitioners had won a medal at the World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad.
Context: India at the SCO Summit
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Bishkek on Sunday for a two-day official visit to attend the 26th SCO Summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games. He was received at the airport by Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. The SCO platform has become a key diplomatic theatre for India to engage with Central Asian nations, as well as regional powers with whom bilateral channels remain complex.
The Modi-Pashinyan talks signal a broader Indian interest in diversifying partnerships in the South Caucasus region, with Armenia — caught between its historically fraught relationships with Azerbaijan and Turkey — increasingly looking toward non-traditional partners like India.
Point of View
But India's public gratitude to Armenia for the Iran evacuation is a meaningful diplomatic signal — it places Yerevan in a category of partners India is actively cultivating in the South Caucasus. Armenia, squeezed geopolitically after the Nagorno-Karabakh loss and cooling ties with Russia, has been actively seeking new alignments, and India fits that bill. The defence and pharma push is modest for now, but the pattern — bilateral upgrades on the SCO sidelines — is a deliberate Indian strategy of using multilateral forums to quietly build bilateral depth. Whether this translates into substantive defence exports or pharmaceutical supply agreements will be the real measure.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi and Armenian PM Pashinyan discuss in Bishkek?
The two leaders met on 31 August on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek and discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, culture, and education. They also exchanged views on the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
Why did PM Modi thank Armenia during the meeting?
PM Modi expressed gratitude to Armenia for its role in facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals who were stranded in Iran during the escalation of tensions in West Asia. The acknowledgement highlights Armenia's growing importance as a transit and diplomatic partner for India.
Why is PM Modi visiting Bishkek?
PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games. He arrived on Sunday and was received by Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliev.
Who accompanied PM Modi in the talks with Pashinyan?
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were present during the bilateral meeting alongside other senior officials.
What is the current state of India-Armenia relations?
India and Armenia have a modest but growing bilateral relationship, with cooperation expanding in defence, trade, and technology. India has emerged as a defence supplier to Armenia in recent years, and the Bishkek meeting signals intent to deepen that engagement further.
