- Tuesday, January 14, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
In what might look as an indirect dig at China, India’s national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday (29) emphasised on the need for the member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to respect each other’s territorial integrity.
Making his opening remarks at the SCO-level NSA meeting in Delhi, Doval, who is known for his hawkish takes, called upon the states to have mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The charter calls upon member states to have mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity of states and inviolability of state borders, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations and seeking no unilateral military superiority in adjacent areas,” Doval said.
He also spoke in detail about the challenge terrorism poses to the region.
“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and its financing are amongst the most serious threats to international peace and security. Any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, is unjustifiable,” he added.
The SCO features eight full-time members including India, China, Russia, Pakistan and the four central Asian republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
There are four observer states — Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia and six dialogue partners — Armenia, Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
In 2022, India assumed the SCO presidency for the current year.
