Bishkek/New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is visiting the Kyrgyz Republic, today held talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Lt. Gen. Baktybek Bekbolotov during which both sides agreed to enhance collaboration on countering terrorism and extremism.
NSA Doval is to participate in the 3rd India-Central Asia National Security Advisers / Secretaries of the Security Councils meeting in Bishkek.
Earlier, NSA Ajit Doval was warmly welcomed by First Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic Melis Satybaldiev on arrival at Bishkek.
NSA Ajit Doval met Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic Lt. Gen. Baktybek Bekbolotov today at Bishkek. Both sides discussed bilateral cooperation and agreed to enhance existing collaboration on countering terrorism, radicalisation, extremism and drug trafficking.
They reviewed bilateral defence cooperation and discussed regional security issues. Both sides also emphasized the need to coordinate positions on issues of common concern at regional and multilateral fora, the Indian embassy said on X.
The first meeting of the India-Central Asian NSAs was held in New Delhi in December 2022. The key outcomes included a joint communique on combating terrorism, prioritizing connectivity projects like the Chabahar Port, and discussing the situation in Afghanistan — just over a year after the Taliban overran Kabul.
The second meeting was held in 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan, during which India emphasized the importance of connectivity projects but stressed that they must respect the sovereignty of a country.
These meetings have focused on Afghanistan, cross-border terrorism, terror financing, and improved regional connectivity.
Notably, India’s relations with the Kabul government have improved considerably, with the Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi paying a five-day visit to India, during which he held talks with the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
