NSA DOVAL IN RUSSIA: SECURITY COOPERATION IN FOCUS

In the aftermath of a recent terrorist attack in Moscow, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval embarked on a crucial mission to Russia. He is there to participate in the XII International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters, convened in the historic city of St. Petersburg. Joined by representatives from 106 nations, including his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev, the event served as a pivotal platform for strategic dialogue and collaboration on global security challenges.

Amidst the diplomatic proceedings, Doval seized the opportunity for a bilateral discussion with Secretary Patrushev, delving into the progress and intricacies of bilateral cooperation while addressing pressing issues of shared concern.

Concurrently, Russian President Vladimir Putin underscored the gravity of the contemporary threat landscape in his keynote address, labelling international terrorism as a paramount menace of the 21st century. Stressing the evolving tactics of terrorist entities as increasingly perilous and ruthless, Putin cited a recent attack on Moscow’s Crocus concert hall as a stark illustration of the stakes involved.

In the wake of the tragic incident, Putin vowed resolute action against the perpetrators and their accomplices, asserting Russia’s unwavering commitment to justice and security. Notably, he pointed to alleged connections between foreign security forces and terrorist activities, implicating external actors in attempts to destabilize sovereign nations. Furthermore, the Russian president advocated for enhanced cooperation in the domain of information security, advocating for a comprehensive framework of global legal principles to govern states’ conduct in the digital domain.

Amidst calls for collective vigilance and preparedness, President Putin urged participants to engage in substantive discussions at both regional and international levels, fostering a united front against contemporary challenges. As the deliberations unfolded, it became increasingly apparent that concerted action and cooperation are imperative in confronting the multifaceted threats posed by terrorism in the modern era.

While addressing the meeting, Doval laid emphasis on information and cyber security.

In his intervention at the plenary session on Ensuring Information Security in the Polycentric World, NSA Ajit Doval underscored India’s policy to use digital technology for inclusive economic development and calls for international cooperation for an open, stable, secure, reliable and inclusive framework for ensuring information security.

Roadmap for such cooperation should include-All stakeholders from Governments to Private Sector, Academia, Technical Communities and Civil Society;

Regular institutional dialogues to help develop common understanding on critical issues;

Capacity building of like-minded nations through training, education, awareness programs and development of security standards for emerging technologies; and

Creation of Mechanisms for cooperation at domestic and international levels.

He stated that India shall continue cooperation for countering misuse of information and communication technologies by terrorists and criminals, as also for countering terror funding. In that context, the UN Convention on cybercrime will be an important initiative at the international level.

Meeting with Myanmar NSA

On the sidelines of the XII International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters in St Petersburg, he had a bilateral meeting with his Myanmar counterpart Admiral Moe Aung and talked about the current situation in Myanmar and India-funded infrastructure projects in Myanmar.

They also discussed recent developments along the India-Myanmar border, including issues related to security, refugees, development projects, etc.

Meeting of BRICS NSAs

Later, NSA Doval spoke at the BRICS NSAs meeting hosted by the Secretary of the Russian Federation’s Security Council and called for closer cooperation in the fight against terrorism and concrete actions to prevent trans-border planning, funding and execution of terrorist acts.

2024-04-25T09:08:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd