On Wednesday, Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval called for closer cooperation in the international fight against terrorism. He also pledged India’s commitment to Russia to counter terror funding and the misuse of information and communication technologies by terrorists and criminals.
Cooperation Against Terrorism
Doval participated in the luncheon meeting of BRICS NSAs in Russia, where he urged substantial action to prevent transborder planning, funding, and execution of terrorist acts. The Secretary of the Russian Security Council hosted the luncheon. The meeting came almost a month after the brutal terror attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow in which 145 people were killed.
In his intervention at the plenary session on Ensuring Information Security in the Polycentric World, NSA Shri Ajit Doval underscored India’s policy to use digital technology for inclusive economic development and calls for international cooperation for an open, stable, secure,… pic.twitter.com/Y0JhbHSL1f
— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) April 24, 2024
In addition to the BRICS meeting, the Indian NSA also participated in the XII International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters, which was held in St. Petersburg and attended by representatives of 106 countries.
Speaking at the plenary session on “Ensuring information security in the Polycentric World,” Doval underscored India’s policy of using digital technology for economic development and called for international cooperation for an open, stable, secure, reliable and inclusive framework for ensuring information security.
Information Security Framework
According to Doval, the road map for this kind of collaboration ought to involve all relevant parties, including governments, businesses, academic institutions, technical communities, and civil society. Regular institutional discussions should be a part of it to foster a shared understanding of important topics.
Further, it should involve developing security standards for emerging technologies as well as strengthening the capabilities of like-minded countries through education, training, and awareness campaigns. Additionally, national and international cooperation mechanisms should be established. He added that the UN Convention on Cybercrime will be an important initiative at the global level in this regard.
Meetings with Counterparts
On the sidelines of the meeting, Doval met his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, with whom he discussed important issues of mutual interest and reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation.
On the sidelines of the XII International Meeting of High Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters in St Petersburg, NSA Shri Ajit Doval had a bilateral meeting with his Myanmar counterpart Admiral Moe Aung and talked about the current situation in Myanmar and… pic.twitter.com/pjXWXKsj9L
— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) April 24, 2024
The Indian NSA also had a bilateral meeting with his Myanmar counterpart, Admiral Moe Aung. The two officials spoke about the current state of affairs in Myanmar, infrastructure projects that India has supported there, and recent events along the border between India and Myanmar, including concerns about security, refugees, and development initiatives.
Doval also met Celso Amorim, the Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil, and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest with him.