
In meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, NSA Ajit Doval calls for countering terrorism
In an oblique reference to Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorist activities, NSA
Ajit Doval
on Monday emphasised the need to
counter terrorism
in all its forms for regional peace and stability during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister
Wang Yi
in Beijing.
Doval's call for countering terrorism comes nearly a month-and-a-half after India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistani territories early on May 7 in response to the horrific
Pahalgam terrorist attack
that killed 26 civilians.
NSA Doval is visiting China to attend a conclave of top
national security officials
of the member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), an influential regional grouping focused on security related issues.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Upgrade to Lifetime Office 365 (Discover Now)
prime software
Upgrade
Undo
Doval and Wang also deliberated on various aspects of India-China relations amid efforts by the two sides to rebuild the ties that came under severe strain following the
eastern Ladakh border standoff
.
Both sides reviewed recent developments in India-China relations and underscored the need to promote the overall development of the ties, including by fostering greater people to people engagement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said
Live Events
"The NSA also emphasized the need to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to maintain overall peace and stability in the region," it said.
The remarks are also seen as an indirect message to China to put pressure on its all-weather ally Pakistan to take action against terror outfits operating from its soil.
Wang noted that China-India relations have made some positive progress and it is essential that both sides further enhance communication, build mutual trust, and work toward resolving practical issues, according to Chinese envoy to India Xu Feihong.
"Only when the dragon and elephant dance together can there be a win-win outcome. China and India should properly handle sensitive issues and maintain peace and tranquillity in the border regions," Xu said in a social media post.
"Doval said that India is willing to strengthen collaboration with China in multilateral fields and fully supports China's role as the rotating presidency of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
in hosting a successful summit," the envoy said.
"As two major Asian nations, India and China can make even greater contributions to the international community," he added.
The MEA said Doval and Wang also exchanged views on other bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
"The NSA noted that he looked forward to meeting with Wang Yi in India at a mutually convenient date for the 24th round of the Special Representative (SR) talks," it said.
China is hosting the SCO conclave in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping.
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and a deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June that year resulted in a severe downturn in ties between the two neighbours.
The face-off effectively ended following completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21 last year.
In December, NSA Doval visited Beijing and held talks with Wang under the framework of Special Representatives (SR) dialogue on the boundary dispute.
The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23.
The Modi-Xi meeting came two days after India and China firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Pink zones' to come up in urban areas for women's safety
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt intends to establish 'pink zones', each spanning a 10-km radius, to enhance women's safety, as outlined in Odisha Vision-2036 & 2047, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi released on June 20. The 'vision document', developed through public consultation, charts the state's development trajectory. It aligns with two significant milestones: Odisha's centenary as a linguistic state in 2036 and India's century of independence in 2047. The initiative proposes to implement these 'pink zones' in urban localities in the first phase. These designated women safety areas will incorporate sophisticated CCTV surveillance networks, specialised assistance counters, and continuous monitoring systems to deliver swift support to women facing difficulties. "Our primary goal is to create a robust security infrastructure that women can rely on at any time of the day. These pink zones will serve as safe havens where women can seek immediate help and shelter when needed," a senior police official told TOI. "Each pink zone will feature multiple CCTV cameras, emergency response teams, and well-lit streets. The police department will collaborate with local women's organizations and NGOs to staff the help desks and provide support services," the vision document stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Thanesar Town Home Value Just Changed (Take a Look) Homes Values Click Here Undo These designated areas will be situated alongside crucial services, including police stations, healthcare facilities, and legal assistance centres. The vision document indicates plans to increase women's representation in the state police force from the current 9% to 15% by 2029, 30% by 2036 and 50% by 2047. The police-to-citizen ratio, currently at 148 officers per one lakh population, is targeted to increase to 165 in 2029, 200 in 2036 and 300 in 2047. According to the vision document, a specialised 'women safety cadre' will oversee all safety-related programmes in the state. "This cadre will develop and implement district-level safety plans, ensuring a structured and proactive approach to addressing safety concerns. Their responsibilities will include liaising with the police, legal service authorities, NGOs, and community groups to create a coordinated response mechanism. They will monitor the implementation of safety measures, conduct evaluations, and propose improvements for enhanced effectiveness," the document stated. The govt plans to protect women from digital harassment, cyberbullying, and monetary fraud. Initiatives include cyber awareness programmes in educational institutions to educate women about online safety. A dedicated 'women cyber security taskforce' will handle complaints and ensure quick prosecution. An accessible application and website will be created for reporting and swift resolution. Awareness drives will be organised to prevent women from falling victim to fraudulent marriage, employment, or financial security promises.


Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
3 tunnelling machines stuck at Chinese port, may slow down bullet train project
Mumbai: Three massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), essential for building the underground section of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, are stuck at a Chinese port and could potentially delay work on India's first high-speed rail project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Although the TBMs were ordered from German tunnelling specialist Herrenknecht, they were manufactured at its facility in Guangzhou, China. The consignments — two of them expected to arrive in India by Oct 2024 and one earlier this year— have not received clearance from Chinese authorities, who have cited no official reason for the hold-up. The issue has raised diplomatic concerns, prompting the railway ministry to take the matter to the external affairs ministry. Diplomatic channels have reportedly been activated to push for release of the equipment, which includes not just the TBMs but also parts critical for other infrastructure works. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) planned to commission them for tunnelling between BKC and Sawli (Ghansoli). A prolonged delay in TBM deployment for the bullet train project could affect the underground tunnel construction schedule, especially for the critical 21-km stretch from BKC to Shilphata, which includes a 7-km undersea section beneath Thane creek, sources said. Though NHSRCL officials refused to comment, sources maintained the overall project deadline remains unchanged for now. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), the development agency for the Rs 1.08 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, planned to commission three TBMs — TBM-1 and TBM-2 for tunnelling between Sawli (Ghansoli)–Vikhroli and Vikhroli–BKC, and TBM-3 for Vikhroli to Sawli. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the first two were to arrive in Oct 2024, TBM-3 was scheduled to arrive earlier this year. Since the Galwan clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020, India has tightened scrutiny on Chinese investments. This has led to delays, cancellations, and increased bureaucratic oversight for Chinese-origin contracts and consignments. That year, MMRDA scrapped bids for the Mumbai Monorail project involving two Chinese firms. Additionally, Maharashtra govt put on hold three major MoUs signed under the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 initiative with Chinese companies worth over Rs 5,000 crore. TBMs for Mumbai's metro network and coastal road project also came from China, but that was before the 2020 Galwan clash. The TBM for the Thane Borivli tunnel project via Sanjay Gandhi National Park was manufactured at Herrenknecht's facility in Alinjivakkam, Tamil Nadu. The TBMs for the bullet train project are not ordinary machines. One of them is the largest ever built for Indian soil, with a cutter head diameter of 13.56 m. In contrast, metro TBMs typically measure between 6.45 to 6.68 m in diameter. Even the 12.19-m 'Mavala' TBM used for Mumbai's coastal road project is smaller. Manufactured at Herrenknecht's Guangzhou facility, the TBM is equipped with a mixshield configuration, designed to navigate varied geological conditions with precision. It will be deployed by Afcons Infrastructure Ltd to excavate the 20.377-km underground Package C-2, stretching from BKC station to Shilphata ramp. This section includes the challenging 7-km subsea tunnel under Thane creek. Afcons bagged the Rs 6,397 crore contract for this underground package in June 2023, with a completion timeline of 5.17 years. As part of preparatory work, the company is currently constructing three vertical shafts at BKC (36 m deep), Vikhroli (56 m), and Sawli (39 m). These shafts will act as launch and retrieval points for the TBMs. An inclined shaft at Ghansoli (42 m) and a tunnel portal at Shilphata are also being developed to support 5 km of NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) tunnelling. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd officials refused to comment. The tunnel will reach depths ranging from 25 to 65 m below ground level and dip as deep as 114 m beneath Parsik Hill near Shilphata. Officials familiar with the developments said NHSRCL, Herrenknecht, Afcons, and the relevant ministries are working in coordination to resolve the impasse.


Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Asean not keen to review trade pact: Government
NEW DELHI: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said little headway was made in the review of 15-year-old free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean, despite nine rounds of negotiations since 2022. The minister's statement came days after controversy erupted over his comments on some of the Asean countries being a B-team of China. While the assertion was not taken favourably by some of the countries. which are part of the 10-nation trading bloc, the commerce department and the ministry of external affairs are seen to be on the same page, with sources confirming that there is an attempt to stonewall the talks. In 2019, Asean agreed to the review after much pushing by India, but then did not commence negotiations for almost two years. Indian authorities argued that China worked out arrangements through companies and affiliates, which allowed it to route subsidised goods through one of the countries that make up the trading bloc. The Modi govt argued that trade deal with Asean was not negotiated properly by the UPA, resulting in the terms of trade being tilted in favour of these countries, which was visible through the rising trade deficit. Officials pointed out that in return for India opening up 71% of its tariff lines, Indonesia responded for only 41% of the products, with two-thirds of the trade liberalised in the case of Vietnam and Thailand - areas where India is seeking correction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like BMW i4. 100% Elétrico. BMW Saiba Mais Undo Addressing an event to commemorate the third anniversary of Vanijya Bhawan, the first new office block to come up along Kartavya Path, Goyal said that India was now seeking to enter into FTAs with advanced economies that were complementary and not competing for the same market. "Instead of competition, it is a spirit of collaboration," he told reporters. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now