National security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday attended the meeting of NSAs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kazhakhastan’s Astana, during which he said that India is committed to further deepening ties with the member states that are several centuries old.
He also condemned the terror attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow and said that perpetrators of terrorism should be effectively and expeditiously dealt with including those involved in cross-border terrorist activities.
In an address at a security conclave of the SCO, he also 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 & its affiliates, ISIS & its affiliates, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad.
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 effective mechanisms for cooperation within RATS-SCO for countering terror financing and supports its further strengthening, he said.
In his remarks, Doval expressed deep concern on the security situation in Afghanistan including the continued presence of terrorist networks.
He noted that as a contiguous neighbour of Afghanistan, India has legitimate security and economic interests in Afghanistan.
Doval also conveyed that the SCO’s immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring the formation of a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities.
India has invested USD three billion in Afghanistan and supplied 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 250 tonnes of medical aid and supplied 40,000 litres of Malathion pesticide to fight the locust menace.
In the meeting of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with the secretaries of the security councils of the SCO member states, Doval conveyed India’s support for Kazakh initiatives in the grouping and for a successful presidency.
India is committed to further deepening its relationship with SCO and member states proactively and constructively, Doval said.
Security is India’s priority in the SCO as elaborated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in line with his vision for a SECURE SCO, he noted.
The acronym SECURE stands for Security, Economic Cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment Protection.