In his address at the plenary session themed ‘Ensuring information security in the polycentric world’, Doval highlighted India’s approach of leveraging digital technology for inclusive economic development
During the ‘XII International Meeting of High Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters’ held in St Petersburg, Russia, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval reiterated India’s commitment to collaborating with other nations in countering terrorism financing and the misuse of information and communication technologies by criminals and terrorists.
In his address at the plenary session themed ‘Ensuring information security in the polycentric world’, Doval highlighted India’s approach of leveraging digital technology for inclusive economic development. He emphasised the importance of continued cooperation in countering the misuse of technology by terrorists and criminals, as well as in combating terror funding. Doval also underscored the significance of the proposed UN convention on cybercrime as a crucial global initiative.
The negotiations for a global treaty on countering cybercrime have been ongoing since May 2021 among UN member states. However, consensus has not yet been reached on whether the convention should focus solely on cybercrime or encompass all crimes committed using information and communication technologies.
Doval advocated for international cooperation in establishing an open, stable, secure, reliable, and inclusive framework for ensuring information security. He proposed a roadmap for such cooperation involving stakeholders from governments, private sector, academia, technical communities, and civil society. This roadmap would include capacity building of like-minded nations through various programs, development of security standards for emerging technologies, and establishment of mechanisms for domestic and international cooperation.
During the meeting, Doval engaged in bilateral discussions with counterparts from other countries. With Admiral Moe Aung of Myanmar, he discussed the current situation in Myanmar and the progress of India-funded infrastructure projects. They also addressed recent developments along the India-Myanmar border, including security concerns and refugee issues.
In a separate meeting with Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Doval reviewed the progress of bilateral cooperation and discussed mutual areas of interest. Additionally, at a luncheon meeting of NSAs of the Brics grouping hosted by Patrushev, Doval emphasized the need for closer cooperation in combating terrorism and preventing trans-border planning, funding, and execution of terrorist activities.