Quick summary
- NSA Ajit Doval told a Moscow security forum that there cannot be double standards in the fight against terrorism.
- He referred to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, while calling for accountability for terror groups and their sponsors.
- The remarks also came alongside India-Russia security consultations and wider concerns over global instability.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval used a major security forum in Moscow to push India's core counter-terror message: countries cannot condemn terrorism selectively.
According to reports from the forum, Doval said every country has a responsibility to fight terrorism and that responsible nations must decide whether they support sponsors of terrorism or counter them with decisive action.
He referred to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed. Indian reports have linked the attack to The Resistance Front, described as a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
What Doval said in Moscow
The message was framed around accountability. Doval said perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terror attacks must be held to account, echoing language used by the UN Security Council after the Pahalgam attack.
He also said India took decisive action after the attack. The remarks were made at the 1st International Security Forum and the XIV International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters in Moscow.
Why it matters for India
The speech is important because it places the Pahalgam attack inside a larger diplomatic argument: India wants terror sponsorship treated as an international security issue, not only a bilateral India-Pakistan dispute.
It also comes at a time when India is balancing security cooperation with Russia, wider Global South positioning, and pressure for stronger international action against groups New Delhi links to cross-border terrorism.
Video context
Firstpost's live segment is used as the video lead for this explainer. The factual summary above is cross-checked with written source links below.
What happens next
The next thing to watch is whether India's Moscow message is reflected in future joint statements, BRICS or SCO security discussions, and any renewed diplomatic push around terror financing and sanctions lists.
Sources and references
- Moneycontrol: NSA Doval says there cannot be double standards in the fight against terrorism
- Hindustan Times: Doval's Moscow remarks on terrorism and security cooperation
- Daily Excelsior: Doval links India's response to Pahalgam attack with UNSC position
- Firstpost: Video segment on Doval raising Pahalgam at Moscow security meet
Why it matters
Doval's remarks are not only about one attack. They are part of India's effort to keep cross-border terrorism, terror financing and sponsor accountability on the global security agenda.