Down with 'flu', Doval not to attend Russian security meet

Laying to rest any speculation of an immediate possible meeting between the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan, NSA Ajit Doval will not travel to Russia for the scheduled security meeting convened at Moscow.

The NSA of Pakistan, Lt Gen Asim Malik, is expected to be in Moscow for the meeting and that had led to speculation if the two could meet on the sidelines of the event.

Sources said Doval was scheduled to attend the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues to be held in Moscow, Russia, from May 27-29.

"He is unable to participate in the meeting due to indisposition with a seasonal flu," sources said adding that Doval looks forward to taking forward bilateral engagement with Russia on strategic and security matters at an early date.

The meeting is hosted by Russia's Security Council chaired by Sergei Shoigu. “Invitations to participate in the forum have been sent to more than 150 countries of the Global South and East, the CIS, Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries, as well as to the leadership of more than 20 international organisations,” the Russian Security Council said in a release.