Will India Host the 7th Meeting of Colombo Security Conclave NSAs Today?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India hosts the 7th Meeting of NSAs for the CSC.
- Focus on counter-terrorism and regional safety.
- Member states assess cooperation pillars for future initiatives.
- Bangladesh's NSA engages with Indian counterpart.
- Strengthening of security partnerships in the Indian Ocean.
New Delhi, Nov 20 (NationPress) India is prepared to host the 7th Meeting of the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in New Delhi on Thursday.
NSA Ajit Doval will welcome his counterparts from member nations, including the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The Seychelles will be present as an Observer State, while Malaysia has been invited as a Guest.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), "The CSC was established to foster closer collaboration between Member States on critical security issues and to strengthen partnerships aimed at enhancing regional security in the Indian Ocean region."
Staying aligned with this goal, the MEA stated that the 7th Meeting of the NSAs will serve as a platform for participants to assess the activities under various cooperation pillars such as Maritime Safety and Security, Countering Terrorism and Radicalization, Combatting Transnational Organized Crime, Cyber Security, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, while also discussing the Roadmap and Action Plan for 2026.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh's NSA Khalilur Rahman visited his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, for an extensive discussion in New Delhi, as reported by media outlets in Dhaka.
This meeting takes place amidst Dhaka's renewed requests for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following a death sentence verdict delivered by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) earlier this week.
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi took to X to announce, "The Bangladesh delegation at the Seventh NSA-level Meeting of the CSC, led by NSA Dr Khalilur Rahman, met with India's NSA Mr Ajit Doval and his team today in Delhi. They discussed CSC initiatives and key bilateral matters. Rahman extended an invitation to Doval for a visit to Bangladesh at his convenience."
The 6th Meeting of the NSAs of the CSC took place in December 2023 in Mauritius, and member states convened again during the Signing Ceremony for the Founding Documents of the CSC in Sri Lanka in August 2024.
Furthermore, the Deputy National Security Advisers (DNSAs) of CSC countries have been meeting regularly, with their last virtual meeting held in July 2024.
The MEA noted that in recent years, India has hosted several pivotal events, including the First CSC Oceanographers and Hydrographers Conference, where member and observer states exchanged knowledge and best practices in oceanography and hydrography, discussing collaborative strategies to tackle regional oceanic challenges.
Moreover, India's inaugural Coastal Security Conference, emphasizing the enhanced roles and responsibilities of the Coast Guards of Member and Observer States in safeguarding coastlines and beyond, and the third edition of the Maritime Law Workshop were also held in India.
India has also conducted various training programs focusing on investigating terrorism cases, combating trafficking, organized crime, and drug law enforcement.