SCO-RATS to counter terror groups operating from Afghanistan

The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in its key meeting held here on Friday decided on joint measures by member countries to counter threats posed by international terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of RATS hosted by India. Sources said joint measures by SCO RATS, including Pakistan, to counter terror groups in Afghanistan is significant given fact that the Pakistan Army has been abetting and aiding terror groups there. The meeting was attended by senior officials of all the member nations including China and Pakistan. This is one of the rare occasions that a Chinese delegation was physically present at a meeting since the Covid-19 outbreak.

India hosted the meeting in its capacity as the chair of SCO-RATS. Deputy national security advisor Dattatray Padsalgikar said the meeting also decided to organise a military exercise called 'Solidarity- 2023'.


It is learnt that the exercise will take place in China. "Joint measures of the competent authorities of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to counter the challenges and threats posed by international terrorist organisations from the territory of Afghanistan were approved," Padsalgikar said at a media briefing.