India urges SCO to act against terror perpetrators, sponsors

NEW DELHI: Without naming Pakistan, India on Tuesday called on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to hold accountable the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of acts of cross-border terrorism, and to help bring them to justice.

During his intervention at the SCO meeting of top security officials in Beijing, national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval strongly pitched for a unified approach by members against terrorist affiliates and sponsors. He requested heads of delegations for support to several important Indian proposals, including an "algorithm of joint actions" to counter challenges posed by international terrorist organisations, including the Al Qaeda and its partners.

Seeking to dismantle the terror ecosystem, the NSA highlighted the need to shun double standards in the fight against terrorism and take decisive actions against UN-proscribed terrorists and outfits, like Lashkar-e-Taiba and JeM, and their proxies.

Sources said Doval reiterated that any act of terror, including cross-border terrorism, is a crime against humanity. He said, "India is concerned about the continued threat from terror groups designated by the UN Security Council, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammed, Al Qaeda, ISIS and affiliates."

Highlighting the barbaric April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which TRF, an LeT proxy, killed 26 Indian and Nepalese nationals after segregating them on the basis of religion, Doval said the incident underscored the grave threat posed by such groups.

Referring to Op Sindoor, Doval said India's response to dismantle terror infrastructure and deter terrorists, who were likely to be sent across the border into India, was measured and non-escalatory.

Doval said India has centuries old linkages with each country in the SCO. "The millennia old Indian principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' will guide India's approach to prosper together with SCO member states," he added.

The NSA added the member states must come together for joint measures to counter radicalisation leading to terrorism, separatism and extremism, and "joint information operation" to counter extremist ideology.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh is travelling to China to attend the two-day SCO meeting which begins on Wednesday in Qingdao, a port city in Shandong province.