Beijing: India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit of national security chiefs in Beijing, delivered a strong message against the selective approach adopted by some countries in tackling terrorism. Without naming Pakistan directly, Doval condemned the use of terrorism as a tool of statecraft and said that cross-border terrorism, in any form, is a crime against humanity.
Highlighting the urgent need for consistency in the global fight against terror, Doval warned against “double standards” and called on all SCO members to unite against terrorism, extremism, and separatism. He advocated for enhanced joint information operations among member nations to effectively counter these threats.
Doval specifically urged the bloc to take firm action against United Nations-designated terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and their proxies. He emphasized the importance of dismantling the entire ecosystem that sustains terrorism and bringing to justice the individuals and entities responsible for funding, organizing, and perpetrating acts of terror.
His remarks come in the backdrop of China's continued support for Pakistan in international forums, where Beijing has allegedly often blocked efforts to sanction terrorists allegedly backed by Islamabad.
During his visit, Doval also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, especially in the context of the ongoing India-China border tensions in eastern Ladakh. Both sides reviewed recent developments and expressed a commitment to improving ties through dialogue and increased people-to-people exchanges, according to a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs.
Doval’s hard-hitting statements on terrorism followed India’s strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administrated Kashmir. The operation was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
