National Security Adviser Ajit Doval brought up the subject of combating all kinds of terrorism in order to ensure peace and stability in the region in a meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday as part of a series of moves by the two countries towards normalising bilateral ties.
India-China Relations and People-to-People Connects Discussed
Doval also discussed the recent developments in India-China relations with Wang and the two sides emphasized the importance of advancing the overall development of the relationship, including by enhancing increased people-to-people connections, the external affairs ministry stated in a readout.
NSA Ajit Doval Highlights Need to Counter All Forms of Terrorism
The NSA “emphasised the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain overall peace and stability in the region”, the readout said without giving details.
The issue of terror is raised to prominence in the light of China’s recent backing of Pakistan in the military engagements with India in the past month. Indian forces carried out military operations against terror targets in Pakistani-held areas on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack on 26 civilians.
India’s retaliation prompted four days of armed confrontations between Pakistan and India that were terminated when the two nations agreed to a mutual understanding to stop military hostilities on May 10. Pakistan extensively utilized military gear of Chinese origin during the confrontations.
Since India and China last October came to an understanding on stopping a months-long military standoff at Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting in Kazan city of Russia and agreed on steps to bring bilateral relations to normalcy and to solve the historic boundary issue between the two sides. These include meetings between Doval and Wang, Special Representatives for the border issue.
NSA Ajit Doval Participates in SCO Security Council Secretaries Meet
Doval has traveled to China to participate in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Security Council Secretaries, as part of preparations for the forthcoming SCO Summit due to take place in Beijing. Modi is scheduled to attend the summit.
Wang and Doval also discussed other bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, the readout said. Doval said he looked forward to meeting Wang in India at a mutually convenient date for the next round of talks between the Special Representatives.
“Only when the dragon and elephant dance together can there be a win-win outcome. China and India should properly handle sensitive issues and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border regions,” Wang was quoted as saying by the envoy.
Doval reached China as the first batch of Indian pilgrims embarked on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to the Tibet Autonomous Region. The pilgrimage had been halted for five years and was resumed as part of India and China’s efforts to normalise their relationship.