(File photo-VNA)

Indian news agency ANI reported on Saturday that Indian officials have taken into account the worsening COVID-19 situation before making a decision not to participate in the event set to be held in Astrakhan area of southern Russia.

Kavkaz-2020 is scheduled to take place from September 15-26 with the presence of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Central Asian countries.

The ANI reported that Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Russia this week for the SCO defence ministers’ meeting.

SCO has 8 members: India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.