Hold terror perpetrators to account: NSA
NEW DELHI, June 24:
In line with India’s diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to press the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to ramp up efforts to contain terrorism at a two-day conclave of the bloc in China’s Qingdao that begins on Wednesday.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Singh is travelling to Qingdao, a port city in China’s eastern Shandong province, for the conclave which is expected to extensively deliberate on the evolving regional security scenario.
The Defence Minister’s plan to call for greater regional cooperation to counter terrorism comes nearly a month-and-a-half after India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistani territories in response to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack.
It is the first visit to China by a senior Indian Minister after the ties came under severe strain following the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that began in May 2020.
Singh is expected to highlight India’s continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India’s vision towards achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, according to an official readout.
It said the Defence Minister is also expected to stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO.
He will also hold bilateral meetings with the defence ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia.
“India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region,” the Defence Ministry said in the readout.
It says SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states.
China is hosting the meeting in its capacity as the current chair of SCO.
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and a deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June that year resulted in a severe strain in ties between the two neighbours.
The face-off effectively ended following completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21.
Meanwhile, NSA Ajit Doval on Tuesday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers of cross border terror to account, widely seen as a demand to act against Pakistan-backed terrorism.
In his address at a conclave of top security officials of the SCO, Doval said India is “deeply concerned” about continued threat from UN-proscribed terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Al Qaeda, ISIS and its affiliates.
The NSA said New Delhi launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle terror infrastructure and deter terrorists from carrying out attacks in India following the terror strike.
Doval said India’s actions were “measured and non escalatory”.
The NSA highlighted the need to “shun double standards” in the fight against terrorism and take decisive actions against UN proscribed terrorists and entities like LeT, JeM and their proxies.(PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
