Ajit Doval attends virtual BRICS meet on national security
Source: Hindustan Times | Original Published At: 2021-08-24 16:52:01 UTC
Key Points
- Ajit Doval hosted BRICS virtual security meeting
- India criticized Pakistan's support for terrorist groups
- BRICS nations adopted Counter-Terrorism Action Plan
- Meeting addressed Afghanistan situation post-Taliban takeover
- Focus on cooperation in counter-terrorism, health safety, and law enforcement
India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday hosted a virtual meeting of top security officials of the BRICS nations that focused on collectively dealing with regional and global security challenges including the threat of terrorism and drug trafficking.
The meeting was attended by Brazilian security official Gen Augusto Helena Ribeiro Pereira, Russian NSA General Nikolai Patrushev, Chinese Politburo member Yang Jeichi and South African deputy minister of state security Ncediso Goodenough Kodwa, according to a statement issued by the government.
India holds the chairship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc this year which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the grouping. The meeting of the top security advisors took place before the summit of the heads of the state of BRICS nations that India is scheduled to host later this year under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tuesday’s meeting took place over a week after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan.
People familiar with the development said the meeting reviewed the regional and global political and security scenario with particular reference to current developments in Afghanistan, Iran, Middle East and the Gulf nations and emerging threats to national security.
India also took a veiled dig at Pakistan over cross-border terrorism and said that activities of state-supported terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed threaten peace.
“Other items on the agenda were cooperation among law enforcement agencies, health safety and healthcare and counter-terrorism. India raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and activities of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed which enjoy state support and threaten peace and security,” the statement issued by the Indian government read.
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The representatives adopted and recommended the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan for consideration by the summit of the heads of the state.
The BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of the global trade, according to news agency PTI.
India has been strongly pitching for deeper cooperation among the BRICS member countries in dealing with terrorism, extremism and radicalisation.