Need to shun double standards, act against terror sponsors, Doval tells SCO members

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to hold perpetrators, organisers and financiers of cross-border terrorism to account, widely seen as a demand to act against Pakistan-backed terrorism.

The NSA highlighted the need to "shun double standards" in the fight against terrorism and take decisive actions against UN-proscribed terrorists and entities like LeT, JeM and their proxies.

In his address at a conclave of the top security officials of the SCO in China, Doval said, "India is deeply concerned about continued threat from UN-proscribed terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Al Qaeda, ISIS and its affiliates."

The NSA said New Delhi launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle terror infrastructure and deter terrorists from carrying out attacks in India, following the Pahalgam terror strike.

In response to the attack in Pahalgam, in which the TRF, a proxy of the LeT, killed 26 Indian and Nepalese nationals and injured several others after segregating them on the basis of religion, India launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle terror infrastructure, he said. India's actions were "measured and non-escalatory", he added.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also put out details of the meeting Doval had with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. India had already issued a statement late last night after the two met on Monday.

The Chinese side quoted Wang saying that China-India relations had made some positive progress. "It is essential that both sides further enhance communication, build mutual trust and work towards resolving practical issues," the statement read.

Only when the dragon and elephant dance together can there be a win-win outcome, the statement said. China and India should properly handle sensitive issues and maintain peace and tranquility in the border regions. Doval said that India was willing to strengthen collaboration with China in multilateral fields, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Doval met Aleksandr Venediktov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, on Tuesday.