Common terror threat, Afghan crisis to dominate NSA talks with Central Asia

The common threat of terror, the security situation in Afghanistan and the desire to increase connectivity will dominate the first-ever dialogue between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his counterparts from Central Asian republics in the capital on Tuesday.

Sources said the meeting, which is likely to become a recurring event in future, will focus on terrorism, including the threat of groups using an unstable Afghanistan as a base to plot attacks in the region.

"There is a shared interest in exchanging information and opinions on the tactics and techniques used by terror outfits to target nations. There is an increased use of cyberspace to spread radicalisation that has resulted in a spurt in lone wolf attacks," sources said. While the focus will be on terror outfits using Afghanistan as a base for operations and training, sources said it is not lost that back linkages exist with groups that operate from Pakistan as well. India has particular concern over the use of Afghanistan territory by groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba that target Indian interests in Jammu and Kashmir.


The dialogue, which will be attended by representatives from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, is expected to bring forward a joint statement for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.