Connectivity projects should respect sovereignty and territorial integrity: NSA Doval

International connectivity projects should respect “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the nations, NSA Ajit Doval said in the meeting of security representatives of SCO member countries on March 29, 2023.

International connectivity projects should respect “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the nations, said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on March 29.

Addressing the meeting of security representatives of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Mr. Doval focused on terror-financing and called upon all member countries to support relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. 

“Connectivity remains a key priority for India. We stand ready to cooperate on investing in and building connectivity in the region. While expanding connectivity, it is important to ensure that such initiatives are consultative, transparent and participatory and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” said Mr. Doval welcoming the delegates to Wednesday’s meeting.

The meeting has drawn attention as it is being attended by the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev, one of the most important officials from Kremlin under President Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Doval drew attention to the issue of cross-border terrorism and said, “Any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, is unjustifiable. It is important therefore for all countries to fulfil the obligations enshrined in relevant counter-terrorism cooperation protocols, including UNSC resolutions 1267, 1373 and successor Resolutions, for the purpose of identifying and implementing sanctions against global terrorist entities”. 

Mr. Doval’s comments on adhering to the UNSC resolutions is important as it hints at the roadblocks that India has faced in the past in its campaign against global terrorism because of frequent obstructions from China. In January, Abdul Rehman Makki of Lashkar-E-Taiba was listed as a global terrorist under the 1267 UN Sanctions Committee after China lifted its “technical hold”. The move came seven months after China had put a hold on the Indo-U.S. joint proposal to list Mr. Makki as a global terrorist on June 16, 2022.

Apart from Mr. Doval and Mr. Patrushev, the meeting also saw in-person attendance of Gizat Nurdauletov, Aide to the President, Secretary of the Security Council of Kazakhstan, Lt. Gen Marat Mukanovich Imankulov, Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan, and Viktor Makhmudov, Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan. Special invitees to the event are Nuran Niyazaleiv, Deputy Secretary General of the SCO Secretariat, and Mirzaev Ruslan Erkinovich, Director, Executive Committee of SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).