India: Supporting Peace and Development in Afghanistan, Our Regional Priority
DIDPress: India’s Defense Minister said his country maintains a steadfast and resolute policy in supporting peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reaffirmed India’s steadfast support for peace, security and stability in Afghanistan while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China.
“India has been consistent and steadfast in its policy in support of peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. Our immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance to Afghan people and contributing to Afghanistan’s overall developmental needs. As Afghanistan’s largest regional development partner, India continues to implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people,” he underlined.
Underscoring India’s civilisational values and global vision, Singh highlighted the country’s efforts to build consensus in tackling global challenges through cooperation and emphasised the need for a unified response to transnational threats, including terrorism, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare.
Regional connectivity and stability were among the other key topics discussed during his address.
The SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting is being held from June 25-26 in Qingdao and brings together defence leaders from member states to deliberate on regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism, and defence cooperation.