Astana, Kazakhstan
National security Advisor Ajit Doval has asked the global community to shun the double standards in dealing with terrorism and hold accountable all those who are sponsoring, financing, and facilitating it. He was referring to the recent attack in Moscow in which 133 persons died and which was claimed by ISIS.
Addressing the 19th Meeting of NSAs and Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries at Khazakstann’s capital, Doval strongly condemned the barbaric terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22 and expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
He conveyed to Russian NSA Patrushev India’s solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in addressing the threat from terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Speaking at the conference the NSA pointed out that any act of terror including cross-border terrorism committed by whomsoever, wherever, and for whatever motives was not justified. Perpetrators of terrorism should be effectively and expeditiously dealt with including those involved in cross-border terrorism.
Doval raised the issue of the continued threat posed by various terror groups in the SCO region, including those designated by the UNSC including Al Qaeda and its affiliates, ISIS and its affiliates, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad.
The Indian Embassy in Kazakhastan released the following pictures of the meet on X:
He emphasised the need to counter the use of technology by terrorists including drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. “India supports the creation of an effective mechanism for cooperation within RATS SCO for countering terror financing and supports further strengthening of RATS SCO in this regard,” he said.
NSA Doval expressed deep concern about the security situation in Afghanistan including the continued presence of terrorist networks. NSA mentioned that as a contiguous neighbour of Afghanistan, India has legitimate security and economic interests in Afghanistan.
He said India’s relationship with SCO countries goes back several centuries and it is committed to further deepening it. He said India is committed to enhancing transit trade and connectivity while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of SCO member States.
Doval also met Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev along with other secretaries of the security councils of the SCO member states and conveyed to him India’s support for Kazakh initiatives in SCO.
“India is committed to further deepening its relationship with SCO and member states.” He told the Kazakhstan President that “Security is India’s priority in SCO as promulgated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in line with his vision for a SECURE SCO.
The acronym SECURE stands for Security, Economic Cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment Protection.
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