Leaving no stone unturned to push Pakistan on to the back foot within the international community over terrorism, national security adviser Ajit Doval made a strong pitch for a joint terror mechanism
Leaving no stone unturned to push Pakistan on to the back foot within the international community over terrorism, national security adviser Ajit Doval made a strong pitch for a joint terror mechanism to deal with outfits, like Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, that operate from Pakistani soil.
In addition, the urgent need to deal with the growing global influence of terror groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda was also discussed during a high-level meeting of NSAs from Brics countries, which was chaired by Mr Doval, in New Delhi on Thursday.
Brics comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Sources said there was general consensus among the NSAs that all Brics members should share real-time information, expertise, information, knowledge and data on terror activities.
In addition, they also decided to formulate a plan to deal with increasing cases of cyber crime among member countries. Cyber and energy security came in for special attention during the deliberations.
Home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also participated in the meeting along with Mr Doval.
Terrorism, with special focus on groups operating from Pakistan and Afghanistan, will be one of the key components during the summit-level talks among Brics members, which are scheduled to be held in Goa on October 15 and 16.
The NSAs from the Brics grouping agreed to co-operate in cutting the supply of funds and weapons to terror groups. The meeting also discussed ongoing violence in parts of West Asia and Africa.
MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India has from the beginning stressed on the need for a segmented approach on the issue of terror. The NSAs emphasised on the need for a uniform global legal regime to deal with terror.
The delegation from Brazil was led by General Sergio Westphalen Etchegoyen, Minister of State, Head of the Cabinet for Institutional Security of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil, Russia by Nikolai P Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, China by Yang Jiechi, State Councillor and South Africa by Mbangiseni David Mahlobo, Minister of State Security.
On the issue of whether blacklisting of terror individuals was discussed Mr Swarup said the issue is well known and “I don’t think this is something which needs to be flagged at every meeting”. While noting that the whole world knows India’s position on the issue, he referred to the UN way of blacklisting terrorists and terror organisations. “It (blacklisting of terrorists through the UN route) should not be governed by political considerations. A terrorist is a terrorist and should be so identified,” he said.
