At an SCO top-level security meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval stressed the imperative necessity of ending double standards in combating terrorism. Without mentioning any nation, his sharp observations were construed by everyone as a subtle reference to Pakistan.
In his address to the SCO security council secretaries' meeting, Doval emphasized the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of cross-border terrorism fully to account.
India, he added, continues to be greatly concerned by the ongoing threat posed by UN-sanctioned terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and their affiliates.
"Any form of terrorism, cross-border terrorism, is a crime against humanity," Doval said firmly, emphasizing the call for concerted and unyielding international action.
He also called upon SCO member states to take firm actions against UN Security Council blacklisted terrorist organizations, their proxies, and dismantle the support and sustenance networks provided to them. In particular, he again called for India's request to bring all such players to justice.
In his address, Doval announced that India had initiated Operation Sindoor as a counter to the recent terror attack at Pahalgam, and the objective was to attack terror infrastructure and curb further violence. The attack by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a LeT-affiliated group—killed 26 Indians and Nepalis, and many more were injured after being targeted selectively on the basis of their religion.
India's response, Doval stated, was "measured and non escalatory" in terms of restraint while securing national security.
As part of a larger plan to fight terror, Doval suggested creating an "algorithm of joint actions" by SCO members to address threats from transnational terror networks like Al-Qaeda and its allies. He also suggested a "joint information operation" to counter extremist ideologies, and appealed for collective action to address radicalisation, extremism and separatist forces.
Alongside the NSA’s address, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to participate in the SCO defence ministers’ conclave starting Wednesday in Qingdao, China. Singh is expected to echo India’s unwavering stand against terrorism and reinforce New Delhi’s dedication to SCO’s goals of regional peace, security, and unified efforts to curb extremism.
The SCO includes India, China, Pakistan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
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