India ready to share ‘battle-tested’ counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN, its dialogue partners: Rajnath Singh
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was received by Philippine National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. to attend the ADMM-Plus meeting at the Mactan Expo in Cebu on October 29, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI
India is ready to share its “battle-tested” counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN and its dialogue partners, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday (Oct 29, 2026), as he described Operation Sindoor as a declaration of New Delhi’s clear approach against state-sponsored terrorist activities.
The defense minister also said that India supports an Indo-Pacific that is secure and resilient – one where peace and stability are not mere aspirations but the result of collective efforts.
Addressing a conclave of ASEAN defense ministers and the bloc’s dialogue partners in Cebu, the Philippines, he flagged concerns about the disruption of certain maritime trade routes and said India would continue to act as a “trusted network security provider” in the Indian Ocean region and the wider Indo-Pacific.
“Today, when global trade routes face new types of international threats, simply issuing maritime security statements is not enough,” he told the ASEAN Defense Ministers Plus (ADMM-Plus) conclave.
But what attracted more attention was Mr. Singh’s call for joint efforts to fight terrorism. “India is fully prepared to share its practical and battle-tested counter-terrorism experience with ADMM-Plus partners,” he said.
“Through joint military exercises, capacity-building programs and robust intelligence sharing, we can further strengthen our collective capabilities,” he added.
The Defense Minister said that last year’s Operation Sindoor, when a large number of terrorist infrastructures were destroyed, was a prime example of India’s counter-terrorism approach. “This was also a declaration of India’s clear approach against state-sponsored terror,” he said.
India’s counter-terrorism experience is not just learning or theoretical knowledge, but rather experience gained over decades of confronting cross-border security challenges, he said, referring to Pakistan’s use of terrorism against India.
“Each of our counter-terrorism strategies has been tested and proven in real operations and proven to be successful,” he said.
Mr. Singh also outlined India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific. “We are promoting an Indo-Pacific region that is secure and resilient – one where peace and stability are not mere aspirations but the result of our collective efforts,” he said.
He said India views maritime security as an issue linked to peace, security and prosperity in the region. “India’s emphasis on the rule of law and in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as its advocacy of freedom of navigation and overflight, is not against any country. Rather, its purpose is to protect the collective interests of all regional stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Singh’s comments came amid continued demands by several ASEAN member states as well as democratic countries to abide by UNCLOS in the face of Beijing’s growing military power in the disputed South China Sea.
Published – 29 Oct 2026 12:14 IST