New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday offered to share India’s “battle-tested” counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners, citing the country’s experience in tackling cross-border terrorism and describing Operation Sindoor as a clear message against state-sponsored terror.
Addressing the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) conclave in Cebu, the Philippines, Singh called for stronger international cooperation against terrorism through joint military exercises, capacity-building programmes and intelligence sharing.
“India is fully prepared to share its practical and battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise with ADMM-Plus partners,” he said, emphasising the need to strengthen collective capabilities to address evolving security threats.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched last year, Singh said Indian forces had destroyed a significant number of terrorist infrastructures during the operation. He described it as a declaration of New Delhi’s firm approach towards state-sponsored terrorism.
The minister said India’s counter-terrorism experience was rooted in decades of confronting cross-border security challenges and was not limited to theoretical knowledge.
“Every strategy of ours against terrorism has been tested and proven in actual operations and has demonstrated its success,” he said.
Singh also highlighted India’s commitment to a secure and resilient Indo-Pacific, stressing that regional peace and stability required coordinated efforts among countries.
Flagging emerging threats to international maritime trade routes, he said issuing statements on maritime security was no longer sufficient and called for practical measures to safeguard shipping and regional connectivity.
He reiterated India’s commitment to acting as a trusted net security provider in the Indian Ocean region and the wider Indo-Pacific.
The defence minister said maritime security was closely linked to regional peace, security and prosperity. He also underlined the importance of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and called for safeguarding freedom of navigation and overflight.
Singh said India’s position on maritime law was intended to protect the collective interests of regional stakeholders rather than target any particular country.
His remarks come amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea, where several ASEAN members have stressed the importance of respecting international maritime law amid China’s growing military presence and competing territorial claims.
The ADMM-Plus brings together ASEAN defence ministers and their counterparts from dialogue partner countries to discuss regional security challenges and strengthen defence cooperation.
