NSA Ajit Doval Stresses 'Respect For Sovereignty And Territorial Integrity' At SCO-level Meeting

India's National Security Advisor stressed the importance of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation members respecting each other's territorial integrity, in what appears to be a veiled reference to China.

At Delhi's SCO-level NSA meeting, Doval stated: "The charter calls upon member states to have mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity of states and inviolability of state borders, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations and seeking no unilateral military superiority in adjacent areas."

Doval also discussed terrorism challenge in the region. He said that "Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and its financing are amongst the most serious threats to international peace and security.

The National Security Advisor stated that terrorism and its funding pose a significant risk to global peace and cannot be justified, regardless of motivation or form.

India set to head the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2023.

Pakistan and China are likely to attend the SCO-NSA meeting virtually.

Established in 2001, the SCO is an intergovernmental group composed of eight member countries: India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. On 9 June 2017, India became a full member of SCO.