ndia has reiterated its unwavering commitment to a zero-tolerance approach toward terrorism during the 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi. The Defence Secretary highlighted the evolving nature of terrorism, stressing the increasing use of advanced technologies such as cyber tools, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence by extremist groups. He called for a collaborative, action-oriented approach to counter these threats.
India and Malaysia assumed co-chairmanship of the working group from Russia and Myanmar, marking the beginning of a three-year term. During this period, the focus will be on enhancing regional cooperation, boosting interoperability among armed forces, and addressing emerging threats, including AI-driven propaganda and encrypted communication. Strengthening cyber resilience against online radicalization and recruitment is also a key priority.
The co-chairs announced plans for practical capacity-building exercises. Malaysia will conduct a table-top exercise in 2026 to simulate strategic counter-terrorism decision-making, while India will host a field training exercise in 2027 to test operational responses to real-world scenarios. Both exercises aim to enhance regional preparedness and coordination.
The Defence Secretary emphasized a “whole of government and whole of society” approach to countering radicalization and violent extremism. He also advocated for enhanced legal and financial frameworks to disrupt terror financing networks.
This meeting brought together delegations from 10 ASEAN member states, 8 dialogue partners, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Timor-Leste, underlining the commitment to combating terrorism through a united front. With India co-chairing this initiative for the first time, the partnership with ASEAN remains a vital pillar of the country’s Act East Policy.
