India hosted the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting in New Delhi, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval chairing discussions involving security leaders from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The meeting focused on strengthening regional cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, and supply chain resilience amid rising geopolitical tensions. NSA Doval emphasized India's Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy, and MAHASAGAR vision while calling for greater collaboration to tackle common security challenges across the Bay of Bengal region. Bilateral meetings with several member nations also explored mechanisms to enhance intelligence cooperation and regional stability.

BIMSTEC Security chiefs meet in New Delhi | Ajit Doval leads talks on terrorism & maritime security 

Continuing India's neighbourhood-first policy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two projects in Mauritius along with the Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth through video conferencing.

Continuing India's neighbourhood-first policy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two projects in Mauritius along with the Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth through video conferencing. The projects which Mauritius PM described "Mother India's blessing" are phase one of Mauritius metro and a new ENT hospital. Jugnauth, speaking on the occasion in Hindi said, "Iskey liye Mauritius Ki Janta bharat ki hamesh abhari rahi gi" (our people will forever be grateful to India). "We need the blessings of Mother India for us to pursue our journey in the more auspicious manner. Your message today will represent those blessings," he added. The metro project is the biggest project undertaken in the country and has been in pipeline for three decades. Speaking at the inauguration PM Modi said, "The metro will provide clean, efficient and time-saving transport. It will contribute to economic activities and tourism..The other project inaugurated today - state-of-the-art ENT Hospital - will contribute to quality healthcare. The Hospital has an energy-efficient building and will offer paper-less services" India is already involved in several projects in the country. In 2016, India provided a Special Economic Package of $ 353 million for the execution of five projects -- Metro Express Project, Supreme Court Building, New ENT Hospital, Social Housing project, Supply of digital tablets to primary school children -- in the Indian ocean country. Some other India-assisted projects existing in Mauritius include the Upadhyay Training Centre, the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, the Subramania Bharati Eye Centre, the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre and the Swami Vivekananda International Conference Centre (SVICC). Mauritius is also keen to get modern electric buses. Jugnauth visited India twice this year. Both Modi and Jugnauth also met on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly last week in New York. The inauguration of projects in Mauritius by video conferencing comes weeks after India inaugurated projects in Nepal. In early September, India and Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated south Asia's first cross border oil pipeline. The pipeline from Motihari in Bihar to Amlekhganj in Nepal will transfer petroleum products such as diesel, LPG, aviation turbine fuel etcetera.

PM Modi inaugurates two projects in Mauritius through video conferencing

Ahead of his first foreign visit in the second term, PM Modi on Friday said the visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka will strengthen "close and cordial ties" with both the maritime neighbours and is in line with India's ‘<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-travel-to-sri-lanka-on-sunday-will-visit-places-of-terror-attacks-225263">Neighbourhood-First Policy</a>’ and SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region doctrine.

Under the SAGAR doctrine, India has been focusing on regional collaboration while under neighbourhood first policy, New Delhi has accorded priority to its relations with neighbouring countries.

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The people of India stand firmly with the people of Sri Lanka, who suffered great agony and destruction in the wake of the horrific terror attacks on Easter. We fully support Sri Lanka in the fight against terror.
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PM will be going to the Maldives on Saturday, which will be the first bilateral state visit by an Indian PM to the country in 8 years. Manmohan Singh undertook a visit to the country in 2011. Apart from meeting the top leadership, PM will also address the Maldivian parliament or People's Majlis.&nbsp;

In a departure statement, PM said, 'My visit to the Maldives is reflective of the importance we both attach to our relationship as maritime neighbours and long-standing friends."

"We regard the Maldives as a valued partner with whom we share deep bonds of history and culture. Our bilateral relations with the Maldives have been greatly strengthened in the recent past. I am confident that my visit will further deepen our multifaceted partnership," he added.

During the visit, both PM Modi and President Solih will jointly inaugurate two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coastal-surveillance-radar-system-ferry-service-from-kochi-high-on-pm-modis-agenda-during-maldives-visit-225125">defence related projects</a> -- a coastal surveillance radar system and composite training centre for Maldives national defence forces (MNDF) at the total cost of $180 crores. Many MoUs are expected to be signed including training of civil servants, customs and white shipping.

Modi will be visiting Sri Lanka on Sunday, a visit that has been termed as a solidarity visit. The Indian PM will be the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the 21st April terror attacks that killed more than 250 people.&nbsp;

On Sri Lanka visit, PM said, "My visit to Sri Lanka is to express our solidarity with the government and the people of Sri Lanka in the wake of the terrible terrorist attacks there last Easter on 21 April 2019. India stands with Sri Lanka in the fight against terrorism."

During the visit, he will be visiting places impacted by the terror attacks which includes one of the churches in which the suicide attack took place.

Speaking to WION, Sri Lanka's envoy to India Austin Fernando told "Definitely he will like to visit places impacted sometimes because that is going to be standing with another set of people who have been victims of the disaster. His concerns once again, the human concern of the PM"

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had visited India last week for the oath-taking ceremony of PM Modi.

Modi visited Sri Lanka twice in his first term.&nbsp;

Ahead of his first foreign visit in the second term, PM Modi on Friday said the visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka will strengthen "close and cordial ties" with both the maritime neighbours and is in line with India's ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ and SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region doctrine.

Ahead of his first foreign visit in the second term, PM Modi on Friday said the visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka will strengthen "close and cordial ties" with both the maritime neighbours and is in line with India's ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ and SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region doctrine. Under the SAGAR doctrine, India has been focusing on regional collaboration while under neighbourhood first policy, New Delhi has accorded priority to its relations with neighbouring countries. The people of India stand firmly with the people of Sri Lanka, who suffered great agony and destruction in the wake of the horrific terror attacks on Easter. We fully support Sri Lanka in the fight against terror. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 7, 2019 × PM will be going to the Maldives on Saturday, which will be the first bilateral state visit by an Indian PM to the country in 8 years. Manmohan Singh undertook a visit to the country in 2011. Apart from meeting the top leadership, PM will also address the Maldivian parliament or People's Majlis. In a departure statement, PM said, 'My visit to the Maldives is reflective of the importance we both attach to our relationship as maritime neighbours and long-standing friends." "We regard the Maldives as a valued partner with whom we share deep bonds of history and culture. Our bilateral relations with the Maldives have been greatly strengthened in the recent past. I am confident that my visit will further deepen our multifaceted partnership," he added. During the visit, both PM Modi and President Solih will jointly inaugurate two defence related projects -- a coastal surveillance radar system and composite training centre for Maldives national defence forces (MNDF) at the total cost of $180 crores. Many MoUs are expected to be signed including training of civil servants, customs and white shipping. Modi will be visiting Sri Lanka on Sunday, a visit that has been termed as a solidarity visit. The Indian PM will be the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the 21st April terror attacks that killed more than 250 people. On Sri Lanka visit, PM said, "My visit to Sri Lanka is to express our solidarity with the government and the people of Sri Lanka in the wake of the terrible terrorist attacks there last Easter on 21 April 2019. India stands with Sri Lanka in the fight against terrorism." During the visit, he will be visiting places impacted by the terror attacks which includes one of the churches in which the suicide attack took place. Speaking to WION, Sri Lanka's envoy to India Austin Fernando told "Definitely he will like to visit places impacted sometimes because that is going to be standing with another set of people who have been victims of the disaster. His concerns once again, the human concern of the PM" Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had visited India last week for the oath-taking ceremony of PM Modi. Modi visited Sri Lanka twice in his first term.

With focus on 'neighbourhood first', PM Modi set for first foreign trip in second term   