India and Egypt held the 4th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism in Cairo on Wednesday, agreeing to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
In a press release, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated:
“India and Egypt strongly condemned the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam that targeted domestic and international tourists. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for India in confronting all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country’s security and stability.”
The delegations were led by Ambassador KD Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), MEA, and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. Officials from multiple national agencies participated in the dialogue.
According to the MEA:
“Both sides agreed to strengthen joint efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two sides exchanged views on terror threats in their respective countries and regions.”
Discussions focused on emerging challenges, including the use of technology for terrorist activities, terror financing through cryptocurrencies, misuse of cyberspace, and threats from unmanned aerial systems. Both nations also agreed to enhance collaboration in anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, and organised crime.
India and Egypt committed to further cooperation in training and capacity building, cybersecurity, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in counter-terrorism, exchange of best practices, and real-time information sharing.
The two sides also emphasized multilateral cooperation in countering terrorism through frameworks such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The MEA added:
“The two sides also discussed strengthening of multilateral cooperation in counter terrorism, including in the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and FATF.”
“In this context, both sides exchanged views on how to enhance the effectiveness of the GCTF and reiterated the commitment to early finalisation and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT),” it stated.
The next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism will be held in India on a mutually agreed date.