Indian Prime Minister Arrives in Bishkek for SCO Summit and World Nomad Games Opening

Narendra Modi arrived in Bishkek carrying a small symbol of his host country’s identity: a stuffed snow leopard, presented to him at Manas International Airport.

The Indian prime minister flew in from Tashkent, where he had been on a state visit. Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliev welcomed him at the airport.

Modi is due to attend the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State, a gathering in the SCO Plus format and the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games. The snow leopard is Kyrgyzstan’s national symbol and also serves as the official emblem of the games.

Kyrgyzstan holds the SCO’s rotating presidency in the year marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary. India has been a full SCO member since 2017. Modi has served as prime minister since 2014 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2024.

His foreign policy emphasizes India’s role as an independent global power and relations with the United States, Russia, BRICS countries and Central Asia. India remains active in the SCO while maintaining disagreements with China and Pakistan.