National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has indirectly voiced concerns about China, proposing a collaboration among the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to enlist terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime.
Nevertheless, NSA underscored the significance of conducting this process impartially, avoiding any political interference or biased standards. Essentially, he advocated for a fair and unbiased approach to counter-terrorism measures within the BRICS nations.
Ajit Doval made these remarks during the meeting of the BRICS National Security Advisors held on Tuesday. China's representation was in the hands of Wang Yi, who had recently been reappointed as the country's foreign minister, succeeding Qin Gang's removal.
Wang had previously served as China's foreign minister from 2013 to 2022 and currently holds the position of director of the foreign affairs department of the ruling Communist Party of China, making him the top diplomat for China.
Ajit Doval highlighted that China, being a steadfast ally of Pakistan, has consistently hindered attempts at the United Nations Security Council to designate groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based operatives as international terrorists.
He emphasized that the BRICS countries could discover common ground in addressing counter-terrorism measures and work together towards this goal. "It is vital that the decision-making of the UNSC sanctions committee remains free from politicization and double standards," he asserted.
During the 13th BRICS National Security Advisors (NSAs) meeting, Ajit Doval emphasized that terrorism continues to pose a significant threat to national peace and security. The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, gathered to discuss security-related matters and foster cooperation among its member nations.
Doval pointed out that this BRICS NSAs meeting occurred amid a significant transformation in the international security landscape. He highlighted that non-traditional challenges related to food, water, and energy security are experiencing strain, and South Africa's inclusion of these topics in the BRICS NSA's Meeting reflects a comprehensive understanding of broader security dimensions.
According to Doval, water security is a significant global concern, and responsible usage and conservation of water should be a collective responsibility.
He raised an alarm about the growing trend of weaponizing water and stressed the crucial necessity for complete transparency and unrestricted information exchange, especially concerning shared cross-border water resources.
"The politicization of water needs to be countered," he stated.
India expressed concerns over China's dam construction in Tibet, which affects the Brahmaputra River, raising issues related to water security and regional cooperation.
Doval pointed out that the United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets, highlighting India's support for educational and behavioral approaches to environmental conservation. He mentioned India's initiatives like Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), aiming to promote sustainable lifestyles and individual contributions to environmental protection.
He noted that India played a significant role in the global food supply system and had assisted many countries during the pandemic.
He stressed that, along with food supply, ensuring unhindered availability of fertilizers is crucial.
He warned that today's fertilizer shortage could lead to tomorrow's food crisis.
Doval emphasized that research and development hold primacy in the cyber domain to confront common threats and risks arising from emerging technologies.
He expressed satisfaction with the BRICS working group on ICTs identifying cutting-edge areas like AI, quantum computing, cloud security, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things as possible research topics.
He highlighted that the opportunities presented by the digital age would also bring challenges, necessitating unity to fortify cyber defenses, foster international cooperation, and build resilient national cyberinfrastructure. He stressed that cyber-attacks transcend borders and raised concerns about the linkage between cyber criminals and terrorists.
Doval stated that supply chain disruptions have disproportionately affected the food security of vulnerable populations. Addressing this issue urgently requires a shared commitment and common responsibility, he asserted.
He emphasized the importance of access to a secure and affordable supply of critical materials for the development of clean energy technologies.
During India's G20 Presidency, one of the priorities is voicing the concerns of developing countries. India proposes to create a global biofuel alliance under G-20, Doval said.
NSA Doval Meets Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi, Discusses Bilateral Ties