India Hosts Conclave of NSAs of Central Asian Countries
For the first time, India is hosting a gathering of senior security officials from Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, to discuss how to cope with the threat of terrorism coming from Afghanistan and the changing security situation there.
The security situation in Afghanistan and the evolving dynamics in that country will figure in the deliberations. India and the Central Asian countries have shared interests in peace, security and stability in the region. A number of Central Asian countries share land borders with Afghanistan and there have been concerns by them after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August last year.
A source said the Central Asian countries are aware of Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism and its linkages to various terror groups. But because of certain considerations, the countries do not publicly name the groups or the country supporting terrorism. The sources said India and the Central Asian countries have similarities in approach in countering terrorism and the threat of radicalisation and the issues will be deliberated upon in
What The NSA Doval Said:
Speaking at the first India-Central Asia meeting of the National Security Advisers, in New Delhi, Mr Doval said, peaceful, secure and prosperous Central Asia is in our common interest.
He added that countering terror financing should be everyone’s equal priority and urged all UN members to refrain from providing support to entities involved in terrorist acts. He also spoke on the security situation in Afghanistan and said that it is an important issue concerning us all.
In an apparent message to Pakistan, Doval said that India should appeal to all UN members to fulfill obligations enshrined in relevant counter-terror conventions.
More About This Development:
In November last year, India hosted a regional dialogue on the situation in Afghanistan that was attended by NSAs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
But it is the first time that India is hosting the top security officials of the central Asian countries. The meeting, notably, coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and the Central Asian countries.
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9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022 Inaugurated in Goa
The World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo 2022 will take place in Goa from December 8–11 with the aim of giving industry leaders, practitioners, traditional healers, educators, students, medicine manufacturers, etc. a global platform for networking and intellectual exchange in order to strengthen the Ayurveda sector, envision its future, and facilitate interaction between experts and customers in order to increase Ayurveda commerce.
The third edition of the ‘Ayushman’ comic book series was also released at the event. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Rosenberg’s European Academy of Ayurveda, Germany, to facilitate advanced studies in traditional Indian medicine systems.
Addressing the event, Union minister of state for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shripad Naik said that the spread of Ayurveda worldwide has been facilitated by the setting up of a separate ministry of Ayush by the Centre in 2014. “When one sees the way Ayush is progressing today, one must remember that the seed of this development lies in that decision.”
`Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam` is the spirit of India since the beginning. In 2015, the United Nations decided to celebrate the International Day of Yoga. Now it is benefiting citizens all over the world. The Ayurveda Congress‘ activities go a long way in propagating such traditional systems of healing and well-being all over the world,“ the minister said.
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7th edition of US-India Naval Exercise Sangam begins in Goa
Drill Sangam, a combined Naval Special Forces exercise between the Indian Navy MARCOs and the US Navy SEALs, entered its seventh iteration in Goa.
The current version, which will include members of SEAL Team Five from San Diego as well as US and Indian Navy MARCOs from INS Abhimanyu, intends to exchange knowledge and expertise on a variety of maritime special operations topics.
The exercise is planned for a duration of three weeks wherein personnel will exercise and hone their skills in maritime interdiction operations, direct action missions, combat free fall jumps, special heliborne operations and various other evolutions.