In rising indicators of fear with Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, India’s Nationwide Safety Advisor Ajit Doval has stated “The problem of narcotics trafficking has intensified in last one year” within the “light of developments in Afghanistan” which is “evident in growing number of seizers in the past year”. Taliban took over Afghanistan in August of final yr because the earlier Ghani regime collapsed.
Talking on the Colombo Safety conclave within the Maldives on Wednesday, NSA Doval stated, “We remain vulnerable to the threats of trafficking, organised crime and maritime terrorism”.
He identified how Indian and Sri Lankan authorities had busted narcotics being transported on the excessive seas.
He stated, “Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation of India’s narcotic Bureau, Indian navy along with our Sri Lankan counterparts recently seized over 800 kg of high-quality drug over the high seas that valued over $267 million.”
He additional added, “Our agencies and services have been continuously working for various such intelligence inputs and will carry out more operations. Close cooperation on such issues will be in our mutual interest.”
India’s NSA is within the Maldives for the fifth Nationwide Safety Adviser stage assembly of the Colombo Safety conclave which incorporates India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Mauritius has been added because the fourth member of the group, making it a quad grouping.
Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as observers.
On the meet, he known as for “Institutionalisation of our cooperation with a concrete roadmap and defined charters of objectives”, stating that “as maritime neighbours, we face common security challenges, our national security is deeply intertwined with our collective security aspirations in the region.”
The 4th assembly of the NSAs occurred in Colombo on November 28, 2020, the place India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives agreed to develop the scope and membership of the group and renamed it the Colombo Safety Conclave.
The subsequent assembly of the conclave is scheduled to be held in India on the deputy NSA stage. The subsequent NSA stage dialogue will even be held in India.
On the meet within the Maldives on Wednesday, NSAs mentioned the importance of shut cooperation between Member and observer international locations in maritime security and safety, countering terrorism and radicalisation.
NSA Doval stated, “As maritime national, our security at very basic level depends on the security of our coast. Our coasts are vulnerable and numerous threats such as maritime terrorism, smuggling, trafficking. Numerous strategic installations on our coasts that are vital for our security and development and prosperity of our nation and our people.”