At the June 26 SCO defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun to advocate a “permanent solution” to the long‑standing, undemarcated 3,800 km border. He pressed for a structured, time‑bound roadmap involving disengagement, de‑escalation, formal border‑management mechanisms, and eventual demarcation. Singh also emphasized bridging the post‑2020 confrontation trust deficit and maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control. Both nations agreed to continue consultations. This marks a shift from India’s earlier stance of seeking early resolution toward pushing a definitive and lasting settlement. (PC: X)

At June 25–26 defence ministers’ meeting of the SCO in Qingdao, India declined to endorse the joint communique due to the absence of any mention of terrorism, notably the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar endorsed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s stance, stressing that “when the main purpose of the organisation is to fight terrorism,” omitting it was “unacceptable.” He noted consensus failed because one country—widely believed to be Pakistan—blocked the reference, making the statement “meaningless” without unanimity. (PC: PTI)

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meeting Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Summit in Qingdao, urged a permanent solution to border demarcation and structured de-escalation measures. The two held in-depth discussions on maintaining peace and tranquility along the Indo-China border and agreed to continue consultations at multiple levels. Singh stressed reactivating established mechanisms for disengagement, de‑escalation and delimitation to rebuild trust post‑2020 stand-off. He also updated on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor targeting Pakistan-based terror networks. (PC:X)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, fresh off a rare‑earth trade pact with China, has hinted at a “very big” bilateral trade agreement with India. Speaking at the White House’s “Big Beautiful Bill” event, he emphasized selective diplomacy: “We’re not going to make deals with everybody… Some we … send a letter… you pay 25, 35, 45 per cent.” Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed February discussions between Trump and Prime Minister Modi aimed to finalize a mutually beneficial pact. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described negotiations as “very, very good” and predicted a deal “in the not‑too‑distant future.” The accord aims to deepen trade, investment, and strategic ties between the world’s two largest democracies. (PC: Instagram)

A British Royal Navy F‑35B stealth fighter, valued at $110 million, has been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport since June 14 after an emergency landing due to low fuel and bad weather. A hydraulic snag was discovered post‐landing, preventing its return to HMS Prince of Wales. A small Royal Navy technician team attempted repairs but failed. Now, a 40‑member UK engineering team and specialized tow vehicle are inbound, aiming to shift the jet into Air India’s MRO hangar to shield it from monsoon rains. Parking fees may apply for the extended stay. If on‑site repairs don’t succeed, airlifting the F‑35B via military transport remains an option. (PC: CISF, PTI & CNBC)

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declined to sign the SCO joint communiqué in Qingdao, citing its omission of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26, mostly tourists. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar supported the decision, noting a SCO member widely understood as Pakistan refused to include terrorism while the bloc aims to fight it. The draft did reference Pakistan’s Jaffar Express hijacking, seen as a diversion tactic. Singh highlighted India’s “zero tolerance,” praising Operation Sindoor, and warned against double standards. He urged holding terrorists' sponsors accountable, calling for SCO unity against cross‑border terrorism.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the draft joint communique of the SCO defence ministers’ meeting in Qingdao on June 26. The statement omitted any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indian tourists, while referencing the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan’s Balochistan. India criticized this selective treatment, accusing one unnamed nation widely understood to be Pakistan, supported by China of blocking terrorism references. Singh emphasized India’s “zero tolerance” stance, citing recent Operation Sindoor and placing responsibility on countries that sponsor or shelter terrorists. Lacking consensus, the SCO released no statement. This move underscores India’s insistence on explicit anti-terror language in multilateral forums.

Zohran Mamdani, 33, surged in NYC’s Democratic mayoral primary and ignited intense debate in India after branding Prime Minister Modi a “war criminal” over the 2002 Gujarat riots and pledging to arrest Netanyahu if he visits NYC. Asserting his Muslim-Gujarat heritage, he claimed Muslims are nearly absent in Modi’s Gujarat a figure disputed. His remarks went viral, blasting through Indian social platforms and earning both praise for his candor and backlash accusing him of misinformation and Hinduphobia. His campaign, anchored in progressive calls to cut rents, raise wages and tax the wealthy resonates strongly in South Asian NYC suburbs. The cross-border controversy spotlights diaspora identity, political discourse and global polarization. (PC: X)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on June 27 in Qingdao during the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting. India proposed a four‑point formula to ease border tensions and improve bilateral ties: full adherence to the 2024 disengagement plan, ongoing de‑escalation efforts, expedited border demarcation and delimitation, and leveraging the special‑representative mechanism to establish new confidence‑building processes. Singh also raised concerns about Pakistan‑sponsored cross‑border terrorism, affirming Operation Sindoor as “India’s principled position.” He welcomed the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a six‑year hiatus. Exchanging a Madhubani painting, both sides committed to maintaining “positive momentum,” while India declined to sign any SCO terrorism‑diluting declaration.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Defence Ministers’ communique in Qingdao (June 25–26), citing the absence of any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people . He stressed “no double standards” and called for unified condemnation of cross‑border terrorism, highlighting India’s right to self‑defence through Operation Sindoor . Singh pointed out that the draft statement referenced Balochistan unrest but omitted India’s concerns, prompting New Delhi to withhold endorsement and leaving the meeting without a joint communique. (PC: AP)