India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday hosted a virtual meeting of top security officials of the BRICS nations that focused on collectively handling regional and global security challenges including the threat of terrorism and drug traffic .

The meeting was attended by Brazilian security official Gen Augusto Helena Ribeiro Pereira, Russian NSA General Nikolai Patrushev, Chinese Politburo member Yang Jeichi and South African deputy minister of state security Ncediso Goodenough Kodwa, consistent with a press release issued by the govt .

India holds the chairship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc this year which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the grouping. The meeting of the highest security advisors happened before the summit of the heads of the state of BRICS nations that India is scheduled to host later this year under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tuesday’s meeting happened over every week after the seized control of Afghanistan.

People conversant in the event said the meeting reviewed the regional and global political and security scenario with particular regard to current developments in Afghanistan, Iran, Middle East and therefore the Gulf nations and emerging threats to national security.

India also took a veiled dig atand said that activities of state-supported terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed threaten peace.

“Other items on the agenda were cooperation among enforcement agencies, health safety and healthcare and counter-terrorism. India raised the difficulty of cross-border terrorism and activities of groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed which enjoy state support and threaten peace and security,” the statement issued by the Indian government read.

The representatives adopted and recommended the BRICS for consideration by the summit of the heads of the state.

The BRICS brings together five of the most important developing countries of the planet , representing 41% of the worldwide population, 24% of the worldwide GDP and 16% of the worldwide trade, consistent with press agency PTI.

India has been strongly pitching for deeper cooperation among the BRICS member countries in handling terrorism, extremism and radicalisation.