Rajnath Singh offers India's counter-terrorism expertise to ASEAN-Plus partners

New Delhi, Oct 29 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday offered to share India's battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise with partner countries to strengthen collective security and joint operational capabilities, emphasising that the country's experience in tackling cross-border terrorism was shaped by decades of operational challenges.

Addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, Singh reaffirmed India's commitment to regional security and the elimination of terrorism in all its forms. He said India's counter-terrorism strategies were based on practical operational experience rather than theoretical knowledge.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh said the operation demonstrated India's proactive approach to combating terrorism and its determination to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and establish a firm red line against state-sponsored terrorism.

Emphasising international cooperation, he said India was ready to work with ADMM-Plus partners through joint military exercises, capacity-building initiatives and intelligence sharing to strengthen collective preparedness against terrorist threats.

He described counter-terrorism as an important pillar of cooperation under the ADMM-Plus framework and noted that India and Malaysia were co-chairing the Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024-2027 cycle.

Singh reiterated India's support for ASEAN centrality and a secure, open, inclusive, resilient and rules-based Indo-Pacific, stating that regional peace and stability depended on shared responsibility and sustained cooperation.

The theme of the 13th ADMM-Plus, 'Navigating Our Future, Together', reflected India's approach to international engagement and its civilisational ethos of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' (May all beings be happy), he said.

Recalling the second ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur in October last year, Singh said it had reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening the defence and security dimensions of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and implementing the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2026-2030.

Highlighting maritime security as another key area of regional cooperation, he referred to India's designation of 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and the conduct of the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.

He said the Indian Navy had maintained an uninterrupted operational presence in volatile maritime corridors, including the Gulf of Aden, since 2008, contributing to the protection of commercial shipping and international sea lanes.

Singh added that Indian naval deployments had helped escort thousands of merchant vessels and thwart dozens of hijacking attempts on the high seas, extending protection to commercial shipping irrespective of vessels' flags or nationalities.

Reaffirming India's commitment to being a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific, he called for effective action, regular operational presence and stronger international cooperation to address transnational maritime threats.

On maritime law, Singh said India's advocacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight was not directed against any particular country but aimed at protecting the collective interests of regional stakeholders.

He said India was ready to deepen cooperation with ASEAN partners in maritime safety, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, professional exchanges and capacity building.

In a proposal to strengthen long-term regional engagement, the Defence Minister also called for establishing a dedicated defence 'Youth Bridge' to enhance India-ASEAN connectivity and encourage young people to contribute to regional peace and security.

The proposed initiative would focus on institutional and people-to-people exchanges, digital innovation and capacity building, in line with ADMM-Plus initiatives and the broader 'Youth, Peace and Security' agenda.

Singh said the shared demographic profile and aspirations of young populations across the region provided opportunities to build stronger partnerships and promote a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.