At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Beijing, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval delivered a strong message against terrorism, emphasizing the need for decisive action and the elimination of "double standards" in tackling the menace. Doval's address comes at a crucial time, with the region facing persistent threats from various terror groups and escalating geopolitical tensions.
Doval's remarks, made at a conclave of top security officials from SCO member nations, indirectly referenced Pakistan's role in sponsoring cross-border terrorism. He asserted that any act of terror, including cross-border terrorism, constitutes a crime against humanity. He urged SCO members to hold accountable the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of such acts and bring them to justice. This call for action was widely interpreted as a demand for concrete steps against Pakistan-backed terrorist groups.
Specifically, Doval called for dismantling the terror infrastructure of UN-proscribed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), along with their proxies. He stressed the importance of taking decisive actions against these entities and their support networks, highlighting the need to disrupt their ecosystems. This includes combating the financing, recruitment, and training activities that enable these groups to operate.
The NSA also proposed joint information operations to counter terrorism, separatism, and extremism. This entails coordinated efforts to combat radical ideologies and narratives that fuel these threats. By sharing information and working together, SCO member states can more effectively counter the spread of extremist ideologies and prevent radicalization.
Doval briefed the member states on India's recent "Operation Sindoor," launched in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians. He emphasized that India's actions were measured and non-escalatory, focused solely on safeguarding national security and dismantling terror infrastructure. The operation, which involved precision strikes on terror infrastructures in Pakistani territories, demonstrated India's resolve to combat terrorism.
In a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Doval reiterated the need to counter terrorism in all its forms to maintain regional peace and stability. Both sides also discussed India-China relations, emphasizing the need to promote overall development through greater people-to-people engagement. This comes amid efforts to rebuild ties following the eastern Ladakh border standoff. Doval conveyed India's support for China's role as the SCO's rotating president.
Doval's visit and strong anti-terror pitch at the SCO meeting highlight India's commitment to regional security and its proactive approach to combating terrorism. By calling for "no double standards" and urging decisive action, Doval has set the stage for a more coordinated and effective fight against terrorism within the SCO framework. The challenge now lies in translating these words into concrete actions and ensuring that all member states work together to dismantle terror networks and bring perpetrators to justice.
