In a subtle swipe at China, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has said the BRICS could work together on listing terrorists and their proxies under the United Nations counter-terrorism sanctions regime, PTI reported. The remark by Doval comes amid repeated attempts by China in the past to block listing of terrorists at UNSC.
Doval, speaking at the meeting of the National Security Advisors of BRICS nations in South Africa on Tueday, also emphasised that the process of listing terrorists should be free from "politics and double standards".
"It is important that the decision-making of the UNSC sanctions committee is free from politicisation and double standards," Doval said.
READ | NSA Doval Meets Top Chinese Official Wang Yi, Seeks LAC Resolution Ahead Of G20 Summit
The NSA made the remarks in the presence of China's Wang Yi, who was made the country's foreign minister after his predecessor Qin Gang was sacked in a surprise move.
China, which calls itself an all-weather ally of Pakistan, has repeatedly blocked moves at the United Nations Security Council to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based operatives as "global terrorists".
Last month, China blocked a proposal by US and India to designate Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Mir as a global terrorist by the UNSC. Mir is wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed 166 people and injured over 300. If the proposal was accepted, Mir would have been subject to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
Doval said that terrorism remained one of the key threats to national peace and security. "Terror organisations in the Af-Pak region continue to operate with impunity," PTI quoted Doval as saying.
The NSA also stressed the utilisation of regional mechanisms to advance common goals and address emerging challenges. "All efforts need to be made to ensure equitable and fair access to global commons in line with international laws," Doval said.
Highlighting water security as a major global issue, Doval mentioned instances of weaponisation of water and stressed the need for complete transparency with respect to shared cross-border water resources.
"The politicisation of water needs to be countered," Doval said, referring to India's disputes with Pakistan on the sharing of river waters of the Indus River. Besides, India has also expressed concern over China's alleged dam-building activities in Tibet on the Brahmaputra river.
NSA Doval Meets China's Wang Yi, Discusses Border Standoff
On Monday, Doval met China's Wang Yi on the sidelines of the summit, and sought a resolution to the ongoing border standoff along the LAC.
During the meeting, Doval has told Wang Yi that the border situation has "eroded strategic trust" between both countries impacting both public as well as political basis of the bilateral ties.
"NSA conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship. NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations. The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and world," said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs Tuesday.