Terrorism in all of its forms and its financing are amongst the most serious threats to international peace and security, Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Wednesday.
Doval made the remarks at the 18th meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, stressing that any act of terrorism, regardless of its cause, is unjustifiable.
“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and its financing are the most serious threats to international peace and security. Any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, is unjustifiable,” Doval said during his opening remarks at the Shanghai Group Meeting.
He also stressed the mutual respect for member states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The Charter calls upon member states to have mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity of states, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations, and seeking no unilateral military superiority in areas,” he added.
Several Indian political analysts believe the remarks indirectly referenced Pakistan, also an SCO member.
India has been facing terrorist threats since its independence. Indian planes were hijacked, and India allegedly blamed Pakistan for supporting the terrorists.
The Mumbai attack is another incident. Ten Pakistani terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba stormed Mumbai skyscrapers, killing 164 people. One of the shooters escaped the attacks, while nine of them were slain. According to CNN, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the only gunman still alive, was put to death in November 2012.
The recent incident by Amritpal, a pro-Khalistan movement, has brought back memories of 1980 and the Khalistan movement. Though, the attacks and fatalities in India are at their lowest in the last four decades.
Therefore, from this perspective, the terrorist threat severely threatens Indian national security and international peace and security.
