NSAs from South, Southeast Asian countries discuss mutual cooperation at BIMSTEC meeting

The 5th Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs was held in Indian capital New Delhi on Thursday (16 July).

Ajit Doval, national security adviser to the prime minister of India, hosted and chaired the meeting of national security advisers or heads of delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, said a press release.

At the outset, BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey presented a comprehensive overview of the status of security cooperation under the BIMSTEC and briefed the member states on the progress made since the previous meeting in addressing traditional, non-traditional and emerging security challenges.

The secretary general underscored the importance of the timely implementation of various decision and initiatives, enhanced coordination and information sharing, greater knowledge-sharing and continued capacity-building among the relevant organisations of the member States.

The national security advisers or heads of delegations exchanged views on various measures to combat terrorism and organised crime; ensure security in the cyber, maritime and energy domains; enhance connectivity; facilitate efficient disaster management; and tackle new and emerging threats to their security.

The meeting adopted the BIMSTEC Guidelines for the Maritime Component of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The Guidelines will help BIMSTEC member states undertake relief operations in the region in an expeditious manner. They also endorsed a set of Guiding Principles on the Conduct of Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies during interactions at Sea.

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These principles are expected to provide reference points for increasing predictability and promoting safety during maritime engagements among the member states.

On the sidelines of the meeting, BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey held separate bilateral meetings with the national security adviser of India, home secretary of Nepal and defence secretary of Sri Lanka, which provided opportunities to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation within the BIMSTEC framework.

As BIMSTEC celebrates its 30th Anniversary Year, the national security advisers/heads of delegations reiterated their resolve to further enhance collaboration towards strengthening regional security, building resilience and enhancing institutional capacities to address diverse security threats.