Ready to provide counterterrorism expertise to ASEAN countries: India, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• India has offered to share its counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN partners to strengthen joint capabilities.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, on October 29, 2026.
• India and Malaysia are co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024-2027 cycle.
• India proposed establishing a dedicated defence ‘Youth Bridge’ to enhance people-to-people connectivity between India and ASEAN countries.
• India designated 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and conducted the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.

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Detailed Insights:

• India's counter-terrorism experience is derived from decades of confronting complex security challenges, including cross-border terrorism.
• The strategies have been refined through real-world operations, such as Operation Sindoor, which involved precision strikes against terrorist infrastructure in May 2025.
• India is prepared to share its operational experience through joint exercises, capacity-building programs, and intelligence sharing.
• The proposed 'Youth Bridge' initiative aims to promote digital innovation and capacity building, offering opportunities for young people to contribute to regional peace and security.
• The ADMM-Plus serves as a premier platform for defence and strategic consultations among ASEAN member states and its eight dialogue partners.
• India reiterated its commitment to freedom of navigation, international maritime law, and the security of global sea lanes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries, promoting economic, political, and security cooperation.
• ADMM-Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus): An ASEAN-led platform established in 2010 for defence cooperation and dialogue between ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners.
• Operation Sindoor: A series of precision strikes launched by India in May 2025 against terrorist infrastructure, signaling a shift in its counter-terrorism doctrine.