https://sputniknews.in/20230328/what-to-expect-from-the-new-delhi-hosted-sco-security-advisors-meeting-1336389.html
What to Expect From the New Delhi-Hosted SCO Security Advisors' Meeting
What to Expect From the New Delhi-Hosted SCO Security Advisors' Meeting
Sputnik India
The National Security Advisor-level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) states will take place in New Delhi on Wednesday, per officials. The meeting will be headed by Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
2023-03-28T17:16+0530
2023-03-28T17:16+0530
2023-03-28T17:16+0530
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The National Security Advisor-level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Wednesday, headed by Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.Doval travelled to Moscow in February to attend the this same national-security-advisor-level meeting, but touching on Afghanistan, which was also attended by their counterparts from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. During the visit, he met with President Vladimir Putin and held wide-ranging consultations with Nikolai Patrushev, Russia's Security Council Secretary.Interesting Facts About This Week's SCO SummitThe Indian Foreign Ministry has said that all the SCO member states, including Pakistan, have been given invitations to attend various events under the Indian presidency.New Delhi has been in regular contact with most of the SCO states at the NSA level since last year: the nation hosted the first-ever India-Central Asia Meeting of National Security Advisers/Secretaries of Security Councils in December. According to an Indian Foreign Ministry statement, the situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, drug trafficking, and connectivity topped the areas of focus during the meeting.So, what is on the agenda for this week's national-security-adivsor-level meeting?Regional ConnectivityDr. Sumant Swain, the Deputy Director of New Delhi-based think tank Eurasian Foundation, told Sputnik that the SCO grouping is poised to play a bigger role in enhancing regional economic and political cooperation against the backdrop of food and fuel shortages being experienced in the Global South, which include countries of Central, South and South-East Asia.Swain underscored that the accession of Iran to the SCO would provide a major fillip towards realizing the connectivity in the region.Former Indian Ambassador Anil Trigunayat noted that New Delhi is keen on establishing a strong political and economic presence in the Central Asian region by working on four pillars of commerce, connectivity, contact, and capacity enhancement.Situation in AfghanistanThe security situation and political instability in Afghanistan have been one of the primary areas of dialogue among the SCO in recent meetings.Swain reckoned that SCO states will reiterate their previous calls demanding that Afghanistan not be used as a terrorist sanctuary nor should its serve as a base for attacks against third parties.Regional governments would continue to ask Afghanistan to form an inclusive government and uphold the rights of women and minorities, Swain said, adding that the SCO mechanism could play an effective role in addressing the security situation in the country.With regard to the humanitarian situation, the SCO states have made individual contributions through global aid agencies. These include the supply of food grains, medical supplies, and other emergency aid.Drug TraffickingAccording to Swain, drug trafficking has been a major source of revenue for sanctions-hit Afghanistan against the backdrop of its federal funds in Western financial intuitions being frozen by the Biden administration.Humanitarian agencies have consistently warned of dire starvation circumstances in Afghanistan as the Taliban struggles to unlock the country’s federal reserves.In recent meetings between India and Central Asian states, all sides agreed on the need for greater coordination to counter all drug trafficking threats arising from Afghanistan.Counter-TerrorismHe also noted the growing role of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) in promoting cooperation between the relevant authorities in the war on terrorism, which is in line with recent joint statements.In the first-ever India-Central Asia Summit, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi last January, the regional countries said they would take “active measures” to disrupt regional terrorist networks, curb terror financing and counter the emerging threat of online extremism.New Delhi has also sought greater support from regional partners in curbing cross-border terrorism, which it says, is backed by Islamabad.*under UN sanctions for terrorism
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What to Expect From the New Delhi-Hosted SCO Security Advisors' Meeting
India formally joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2017, but this year, New Delhi is chairing the group for the first time.
The National Security Advisor-level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Wednesday, headed by Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Doval travelled to Moscow in February to attend the this same national-security-advisor-level meeting, but touching on Afghanistan, which was also attended by their counterparts from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
During the visit, he met with President Vladimir Putin and held wide-ranging consultations with Nikolai Patrushev, Russia's Security Council Secretary.
Interesting Facts About This Week's SCO Summit
The Indian Foreign Ministry has said that all the SCO member states, including Pakistan, have been given invitations to attend various events under the Indian presidency.
According to media reports, however, Pakistan and China haven’t confirmed their in-person participation in the NSA-level meeting.
New Delhi has been in regular contact with most of the SCO states at the NSA level since last year: the nation hosted the first-ever India-Central Asia Meeting of National Security Advisers/Secretaries of Security Councils in December. According to an Indian Foreign Ministry statement, the situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, drug trafficking, and connectivity topped the areas of focus during the meeting.
So, what is on the agenda for this week's national-security-adivsor-level meeting?
Dr. Sumant Swain, the Deputy Director of New Delhi-based think tank Eurasian Foundation, told Sputnik that the SCO grouping is poised to play a bigger role in enhancing regional economic and political cooperation against the backdrop of food and fuel shortages being experienced in the Global South, which include countries of Central, South and South-East Asia.
Swain underscored that the accession of Iran to the SCO would provide a major fillip towards realizing the connectivity in the region.
“Both the port of Chabahar and its potential integration into the Russia-backed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) will help enhance regional connectivity to the benefit of greater regional trade and economic integration,” Swain stated.
Former Indian Ambassador Anil Trigunayat noted that New Delhi is keen on establishing a strong political and economic presence in the Central Asian region by working on four pillars of commerce, connectivity, contact, and capacity enhancement.
“Today, India is a strategic partner of all Central Asian countries, and the region's security and safety is central to our dynamic interactions,” the ex-diplomat underscored.
The security situation and political instability in Afghanistan have been one of the primary areas of dialogue among the SCO in recent meetings.
Swain reckoned that SCO states will reiterate their previous calls demanding that Afghanistan not be used as a terrorist sanctuary nor should its serve as a base for attacks against third parties.
Accotding to Swain, however, “little has been done” to address the concerns of the regional governments in terms of dismantling the terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan since the Taliban* came to power in August 2021.
Regional governments would continue to ask Afghanistan to form an inclusive government and uphold the rights of women and minorities, Swain said, adding that the SCO mechanism could play an effective role in addressing the security situation in the country.
With regard to the humanitarian situation, the SCO states have made individual contributions through global aid agencies. These include the supply of food grains, medical supplies, and other emergency aid.
According to Swain, drug trafficking has been a major source of revenue for sanctions-hit Afghanistan against the backdrop of its federal funds in Western financial intuitions being frozen by the Biden administration.
Humanitarian agencies have consistently warned of dire starvation circumstances in Afghanistan as the Taliban struggles to unlock the country’s federal reserves.
In recent meetings between India and Central Asian states, all sides agreed on the need for greater coordination to counter all drug trafficking threats arising from Afghanistan.
He also noted the growing role of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) in promoting cooperation between the relevant authorities in the war on terrorism, which is in line with recent joint statements.
In the first-ever India-Central Asia Summit, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi last January, the regional countries said they would take “active measures” to disrupt regional terrorist networks, curb terror financing and counter the emerging threat of online extremism.
New Delhi has also sought greater support from regional partners in curbing cross-border terrorism, which it says, is backed by Islamabad.
*under UN sanctions for terrorism
