Cebu, October 29: At the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced how India aims to share its ‘battle tested’ counter terrorism expertise with friendly nations in South East Asia. Singh emphasized that India’s has showcased a proven operational framework, as seen in Operation Sindoor, where ground level engagements helped dismantle terror infrastructure and that could help elimiate terrorism across the Indo-Pacific region.
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During his address to regional defence leaders, Rajnath Singh has showcased India’s readiness to transfer practical security knowledge, including joint military exercises, capacity-building programs, and intelligence sharing. He cited Operation Sindoor as a landmark example of India’s stance, during which Indian forces dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites and established a non-negotiable red line against state-sponsored cross-border terrorism
Beyond operational security mechanisms, Singh proposed establishing an “India-ASEAN Youth Bridge” to foster digital innovation, capacity building, and people-to-people connectivity among the region’s young population. Highlighting India’s role as a trusted net security provider in the Indian Ocean, he underscored the critical need to keep vital maritime trade routes open and secure under a rules-based international order.
Addressing the forum, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh explained the origin of India’s security capabilities:
“India’s experience in the field of counter-terrorism is not limited to classroom learning or theoretical knowledge. Rather, it has been gained through decades of confronting cross-border security challenges on the ground. Every strategy we employ against terrorism has been tested and proven effective in real-world operations.”
Singh has described the commitment to ASEAN centrality, describing it as the foundation of India’s Act East policy and a broader vision to develop a free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific trade union. India currently co-chairs the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism alongside Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle, providing a formal platform to advance practical regional cooperation.
