India and Philippines Conclude Counter-Terrorism Meeting in Manila

Manila, May 14: India and the Philippines have successfully concluded the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (JWGCT) in Manila, focusing on emerging terrorism threats at both regional and global levels.

The two-day meeting wrapped up on Thursday, co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism) from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Marshall Lewis M. Alvares, Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs from the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs.

Discussions covered various topics, including counter-terrorism cooperation, law enforcement, judicial collaboration, and capacity building.

A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned all forms of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. The statement also denounced the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, and the incident near the Red Fort in New Delhi on November 10, 2025. The Philippines reiterated its solidarity and support for India in the fight against terrorism.

The MEA emphasized the need to enhance cooperation to effectively address both existing and emerging threats related to terrorism. The two sides stressed the importance of timely information sharing and collaboration to counter terrorist activities and the financing of terrorism, particularly through new and emerging technologies. They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation to prevent radicalization and violent extremism.

Both nations underscored the necessity of strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism comprehensively and continuously. They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Financial Action Task Force, the Asia-Pacific Group, and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

During the visit, the Indian delegation also met with senior officials from the Philippines’ National Security Council and Anti-Money Laundering Council. Both countries agreed to host the next Joint Working Group (JWCT) meeting in India.

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