India Attends SCO Border Chiefs' Meeting in Islamabad, Member States Approve Solidarity 2026 Plan

India participated in a meeting of border security officials from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Islamabad on Friday, where delegates reviewed the security situation along their international borders, shared intelligence and assessments on emerging threats, and approved the next phase of joint border security cooperation.

The 12th Meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO Member States was held under Pakistan's chairmanship. Border service chiefs and representatives from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan , and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti Terrorist Structure (RATS) attended the meeting. India has not officially disclosed the identity of its representative, although reports said a senior official from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad attended.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Office, participants exchanged information and assessments on the security situation along the borders of SCO member states, discussed recent developments, and shared forecasts about potential future challenges. In simple terms, officials reviewed issues such as illegal cross border movement, terrorism, smuggling, and other security threats, while exploring ways to improve coordination, information sharing, and joint responses among their border agencies.

The meeting approved the results of the Joint Border Operation Solidarity 2025 and endorsed the plan for preparing and conducting Solidarity 2026 , a coordinated exercise aimed at strengthening cooperation among SCO border forces. Delegates also approved the 2027 work plan of the SCO Group of Experts on Border Services, supported Tajikistan's proposal to host Solidarity 2027 , and discussed the venue and timing of the next meeting.

Participants said developing common approaches to emerging border challenges would strengthen cooperation, improve security, and build mutual trust among SCO member states. India's participation, despite continuing bilateral tensions with Pakistan, reflects New Delhi's continued engagement in the SCO framework on regional security and counter terrorism.