NSA Doval leads the Indian delegation at SCO Meeting in Astana

The Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation at the meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The meeting was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. He also met Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the current Chairman of SCO.

The 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the SCO member states was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 2 to 3 April 2024.

Addressing the meeting, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated adopting a Cooperation Programme to counter terrorism, separatism, and extremism for 2025-2027 and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029.

He mentioned that countering “three evil forces” – terrorism, separatism and extremism – along with transnational organised crime, drug trafficking and cybersecurity challenges remain priorities during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the SCO.

Doval calls for improving security situation in the Region

Speaking on the occasion, NSA Ajit Doval strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia, on March 22, which killed 144 people. He highlighted the threat of terrorism in the region and suggested various ways to improve the security situation of the nations. On Afghanistan, the NSA said that Afghanistan is a neighbouring country of India, and India has legitimate security and economic interests in Afghanistan.

Expressing deep concern regarding the security situation in Afghanistan and the presence of terrorist networks, he called upon the SCO to provide humanitarian assistance, combat terrorism and ensure the formation of a truly inclusive and representative government. 

He mentioned the various humanitarian steps taken by the government of India. The Indian government has invested $3 Billion in Afghanistan and supplied 50,000 MT of wheat, 250 Tons of medical aid, and 40,000 litres of Malathion pesticide to fight the locust menace in Afghanistan. 

However, the government of India does not recognise the present Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was established as a regional organisation on June 15, 2001. It replaced the Shanghai Five organisation. The founding members of the SCO were China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. 

Member of SCO: The SCO has two types of members: permanent and observers.

There are 9 permanent members- China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, India(Joined in 2017), Pakistan (Joined in 2017) and Iran (Joined in 2023).

Observer Members (3)

Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia.

Headquarters: Beijing, China 

Current Chairman of SCO: Kazakhstan