Rajnath Singh offers India's battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise to ADMM-Plus partners
New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) India is ready to share its battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise with partner countries to strengthen collective security and joint operational capabilities, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, asserting that the country's experience in combating cross-border terrorism has been shaped by decades of operational challenges.
Addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, Singh said India remained committed to regional security and the elimination of terrorism in all its forms, adding that counter-terrorism strategies developed by the country were rooted in real-world operational experience rather than theoretical knowledge. "India's extensive expertise in counter-terrorism is not theoretical classroom knowledge, it is an experience hard-earned through decades of directly confronting complex cross-border security challenges," he said.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh said the operation demonstrated India's proactive approach to tackling terrorism. He said it had shown the country's resolve to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and establish a firm red line against state-sponsored terrorism. Emphasising the need for closer international cooperation, the Defence Minister said India is prepared to work with ADMM-Plus partners through joint military exercises, capacity-building initiatives and intelligence sharing to enhance collective preparedness against terrorist threats.
He highlighted counter-terrorism as an important pillar of cooperation under the ADMM-Plus framework, noting that India and Malaysia are co-chairing the Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024-2027 cycle.
Singh also reiterated India's support for ASEAN centrality and a secure, open, inclusive, resilient and rules-based Indo-Pacific, stressing 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. "Our greatest strength lies in our solidarity and the shared ability to leverage our geographic, economic and strategic diversity. India believes in an international system built on mutual trust, co-operation, and collective responsibility," Singh said.
He recalled that the second ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur in October last year, 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 a key area of regional cooperation, Singh pointed 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 has been maintaining 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. "Since 2008, the Indian Navy has maintained an uninterrupted, active presence in highly volatile corridors like the Gulf of Aden, without coercion or unilateral actions that undermine the rights of other nations," he said.
Singh added that Indian naval deployments had helped escort thousands of merchant vessels and thwart dozens of hijacking attempts on the high seas, with protection extended to commercial shipping irrespective of the vessels' flags or nationalities. "In an era where global trade routes face complex transnational threats, India stands ready to move beyond rhetoric. There is a need for effective action, regular operational presence and international cooperation," he said, reiterating India's commitment to serving as a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific.
Underlining the importance of international 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. "India's emphasis on the rule of law and freedom of navigation and overflight is not directed against any country; it is meant to safeguard the collective interests of regional stakeholders," he said.
He said India is ready to deepen cooperation with ASEAN partners in maritime safety, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, professional exchanges and capacity building. In a separate proposal to strengthen long-term regional engagement, Singh called for the establishment of a dedicated defence 'Youth Bridge' to deepen 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 offered opportunities to build stronger partnerships and promote a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
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