Regional security, extremism, terrorism, drug smuggling and cyber security are expected to dominate the agenda of the BRICS NSA meet

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will lead India at the BRICS NSA meet on September 18. It will be held in a virtual format, sources from the government said.

In the BRICS format, NSA meet is considered to be an important as it helps in shaping the summit of the group. Russia, the current BRICS chair, wanted BRICS foreign ministers and BRICS NSA meet to be held in-person, but on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, things had to be compromised and this is the reason even the group’s NSA meet will be held in a virtual format.

It is, however, taking place at the time when the group’s two important members-India and China-are locked in acrimonious stand off on the Line of Actual Control.

Regional security, extremism, terrorism, drug smuggling and cyber security are expected to dominate the agenda of the BRICS NSA meet.

Since it is taking place a few days ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s plenary meeting in Paris, India will like that consensus should be built among the group members on holding countries accountable for their actions if they support, abet and nurture terrorists against other countries.

Significantly, at the stand alone BRICS foreign ministers meet on September 4, the member countries in their media statement had reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed, and that it should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic

BRICS foreign ministers had also reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to contribute further to the global efforts of preventing and countering the threat of terrorism on the basis of respect for international law and the UN Charter, emphasizing that States have the primary responsibility in combating terrorism.

They had expressed the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach of the whole international community to effectively curb the terrorist activities, which pose a serious threat, including in the present-day pandemic environment.

BRICS foreign ministers had welcomed the outcomes of the 5th BRICS Counter-Terrorism Group (CTWG) and its subgroups’ inaugural meetings on 31 August – 2 September 2020 which further advanced BRICS cooperation in the areas of countering terrorism and its financing, foreign terrorist fighters, radicalization, the use of the internet for terrorism purposes and capacity building.