New Delhi: Worried over the continuing presence of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camps in Afghanistan, India and five Central Asian nations reiterated that Afghan territory should not be allowed to be used by UN-designated terror groups.

The first India-Central Asia Meeting of National Security Advisers and Secretaries of Security Councils jointly underlined that the “territory of Afghanistan should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts and reaffirmed the importance of UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021)”. 

The joint statement specifically noted that “no terrorist organisations including those designated by the UNSC Resolution 1267 should be provided sanctuary or allowed to use the territory of Afghanistan”.

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, Indian sources had expressed concern over ongoing terror activities in Afghanistan, especially of Pakistan-based groups. “A lot of it is targeted at Taliban too. Apart from Al Qaeda and others, groups like JeM and LeT continue to maintain bases there,” an Indian government source said, according to the Times of India.

JeM and LeT were designated by the United Nations Security Council and subjected to a sanctions regime since October 2001 and May 2005, respectively. Both were accused of masterminding the Mumbai terror attack by the Indian government. In recent months, Pakistan has tried to curb their activities on its soil as part of an action plan implemented towards Islamabad’s removal from the ‘grey list’ of the global terror financing watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The senior security officials also agreed that “misuse of new and emerging technologies, arms and drugs trafficking, using terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, abuse of cyberspace to spread disinformation and unmanned aerial systems present new challenges in counterterrorism efforts and call for collective action”.

There was also a reference to the need for a coordinated response to the expansion of terrorist propaganda, recruitment and fundraising efforts in the region.

Echoing the words of the India-Central Asia leaders’ summit held this year, the joint communique also stated that “connectivity initiatives should be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities. financial sustainability and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries”.

In his inaugural address, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said financial support is the "lifeblood" of terrorism, and greater priority should be accorded to counter terror financing.

Describing Central Asia as India's “extended neighbourhood”, Doval said New Delhi accords “highest priority” to this region, adding Afghanistan is an important issue “concerning all of us”.

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