NSA Ajit Doval exchanges a handshake with Indra Mani Pandey (Secretary General of BIMSTEC) during the 5th meeting of the BIMSTEC national security chiefs, in New Delhi on Thursday (July 16, 2026). | Photo Credit: ANI The national security chiefs of BIMSTEC nations on Thursday (July 16, 2026) vowed to jointly combat regional security challenges including terrorism and organised crime while endorsing new guiding principles to streamline maritime law enforcement coordination. The meeting held in New Delhi was hosted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Besides India, the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. New Delhi has been taking a number of initiatives in BIMSTEC to strengthen regional cooperation and partnership, including in enhancing security, facilitating trade and investment, boosting connectivity and collaborating in food and energy security. Editorial | ​A regional revival: On the BIMSTEC summit  The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the national security advisers and heads of delegations discussed practical and result-oriented solutions to combat terrorism and …