New Delhi, Oct 29: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reaffirmed India’s commitment to regional security and the elimination of terrorism in all its forms, offering to share the country’s operational experience in counter-terrorism with ASEAN partners.
Addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, Rajnath Singh said India’s counter-terrorism expertise had been gained through decades of confronting complex cross-border security challenges.
He said India’s approach had been demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, when the country dismantled terrorist infrastructure and enforced a firm red line against state-sponsored terrorism.
Emphasising that terrorism knows no borders, Rajnath Singh said India was ready to strengthen cooperation through joint exercises, capacity-building programmes and intelligence sharing. India and Malaysia are co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024-2027 cycle.The Defence Minister reiterated India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and a secure, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific. He said India’s engagement with ASEAN was rooted in shared interests, mutual respect and practical cooperation.
Highlighting maritime security as a key area of cooperation, Rajnath Singh referred to 2026 being designated 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 presence in volatile maritime corridors such as the Gulf of Aden since 2008. Indian warships had escorted thousands of merchant vessels and thwarted numerous hijacking attempts, extending protection to commercial shipping irrespective of flag or nationality, he added.
Rajnath Singh said India would continue to act as a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation, international maritime law and the protection of global shipping routes.
He underlined that India’s support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and freedom of navigation and overflight was aimed at protecting the collective interests of regional stakeholders, rather than targeting any country.
Referring to the meeting’s theme, ‘Navigating Our Future, Together’, Rajnath Singh said regional solidarity, mutual trust and collective responsibility were essential to maintaining peace and stability. He also proposed a dedicated defence ‘Youth Bridge’ to strengthen people-to-people links between India and ASEAN, promote digital innovation and expand capacity-building opportunities for young people in regional peace and security initiatives.
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