India reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism at today’s 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)–Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism. Delivering the keynote address, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh emphasized the need for a multi-pronged strategy integrating robust domestic frameworks, enhanced intelligence-sharing, and strengthened regional cooperation.
“India remains steadfast in its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and advocates an approach that combines strong internal mechanisms, collaborative intelligence-sharing, and reinforced regional partnerships,” Singh stated.
He highlighted the evolving nature of terrorism, noting that threats are increasingly transnational and exacerbated by advanced technology, cyber tools, and unmanned systems. He stressed that the Indo-Pacific region, given its geopolitical and economic significance, remains particularly vulnerable to transnational terrorism and violent extremism. “This calls for a comprehensive, adaptive, and deeply collaborative response,” he added.
India has assumed the Chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism, taking over from Russia and Myanmar, with Malaysia serving as co-chair for the three-year cycle. The Defence Secretary reiterated India’s commitment to delivering practical and impactful results during this tenure. “By leveraging our collective expertise, enhancing capacity-building, and fostering deeper trust and cooperation, we can significantly bolster regional security and counter-terrorism preparedness,” he affirmed.
Singh outlined key priorities for the current EWG cycle, which include strengthening regional cooperation and improving interoperability among armed forces through structured joint initiatives. He emphasized the need to counter the misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist groups, particularly AI-driven propaganda, encrypted communications, and drone technologies. He also underscored the importance of strengthening cyber resilience to combat online radicalization and recruitment efforts.
He further highlighted India’s deep-rooted engagement with ASEAN, describing the relationship as a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy and a central pillar of the Act East Policy. He reiterated India’s strong support for a stable and unified ASEAN, which he described as an institutional anchor for the region.
The meeting saw participation from all 10 ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand—along with eight dialogue partners: Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, and Russia. Additionally, Timor-Leste and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat were present.
Team BharatShakti
