Archive · 1 Sep 2026
India Balances China, Russia and Pakistan at SCO Summit
India went to a meeting of countries called the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with leaders from China and Russia.
He also criticized terrorism while Pakistan’s leader was in the room.
Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were friendly in public, but they did not hold a formal meeting.
India and Russia have been trading much more, mainly because India buys Russian oil.
However, India buys far more from Russia than it sells there.
India wants better access for its companies in the Russian market.
India is also trying to build stronger ties with Central Asian countries for energy, trade and transportation.
The summit showed that India wants to work with several countries while making its own decisions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek to engage China, Russia and Pakistan without joining any bloc.
Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged greetings but held no formal bilateral meeting, reflecting limited progress after the 2020 border standoff.
Modi delivered India’s warning against applying double standards to terrorism while Pakistan’s prime minister was present.
India-Russia trade rose from about $13 billion in 2021 to nearly $60 billion in 2025, while India’s trade deficit exceeded $50 billion.
India is using the SCO to expand its Central Asian engagement through connectivity, energy, trade, diplomacy and cultural initiatives.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states.
- What
- India used the SCO summit to manage relations with China and Russia, criticize terrorism, and promote its interests in Central Asia.
- When
- At the SCO summit in 2026; Modi and Putin held their first bilateral meeting of the year, according to the article.
- Where
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with related engagements in Uzbekistan and planned meetings in New Delhi.
- Why
- To maintain dialogue with major powers, address terrorism and regional security, improve trade and energy ties, and expand India’s influence in Central Asia.
- Organisation
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Central Asian republics.
- India’s SCO membership
- India became a full SCO member in 2017 alongside Pakistan.
- India-Russia trade
- Bilateral trade increased from approximately $13 billion in 2021 to nearly $60 billion in 2025.
- Trade imbalance
- India’s trade deficit with Russia exceeded $50 billion, according to the article.
- Trade target
- India and Russia have set a goal of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
- China engagement
- Modi and Xi exchanged greetings in Bishkek but did not hold a formal bilateral meeting.
- India’s initiatives
- India announced it would host the first session of the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum and has promoted startup, young-author and young-scientist initiatives.