Manila [Philippines], July 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday reiterated India’s strong stance against terrorism, asserting that there must be “zero tolerance” towards terror and that acts of terrorism will have consequences, while addressing the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila.
Sharing details of his remarks in a post on X, Jaishankar highlighted 12 key areas, beginning with the importance of the forum in addressing political and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific amid an increasingly complex global environment.
Jaishankar stressed the need to prioritise efforts to cut off financial resources that support terrorism, adding that India is co-chairing the Experts’ Working Group (EWG) with Malaysia under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) framework and is taking the lead in preparing a compendium of best practices.
“There must be zero tolerance for terrorism. Nor should there be any doubt that acts of terrorism will have consequences,” he said.
“We should prioritise choking the financial resources that fuel it. India co-chairs the EWG with Malaysia in ADMM+, taking the lead in producing a compendium of best practices,” the EAM added.
During his address, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of the ARF as a platform for discussing political and security issues in the Indo-Pacific, particularly amid the current complex global environment.
He welcomed the Manila Plan of Action and said its five pillars are aligned with India’s own approach towards the Indo-Pacific.
On disaster management and humanitarian assistance, Jaishankar said India supports a collaborative approach involving the sharing of best practices, developing common Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conducting real-time and table-top exercises.
He highlighted India’s contribution through initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, as well as the deployment of field hospitals, search and rescue teams and relief materials.
Jaishankar said India has recently undertaken rehabilitation efforts following disasters, including cyclones in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Jamaica, and earthquakes in Myanmar, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
On maritime security, the External Affairs Minister underlined India’s contribution through the Information Fusion Centre in India, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative and the deployment of Indian forces from the North Arabian Sea to the Western Pacific.
He said these efforts are contributing towards countering piracy, trafficking and narcotics trade, while helping secure maritime commerce.
Jaishankar also stressed the importance of ensuring that the international community remains vigilant against actors undermining non-proliferation and disarmament efforts.
Highlighting emerging challenges, he advocated a responsible and human-centric approach towards artificial intelligence and called for deeper cooperation on cybercrime and related issues.
On maritime trade and security, Jaishankar said attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and that commerce through international waterways must remain safe and uninterrupted.
On the South China Sea, he said India looks forward to a “substantive, effective and legally binding” Code of Conduct (CoC) that is fully compliant with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and does not prejudice the legitimate rights of all users.
Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Manila, during which he attended a series of foreign minister-level meetings, including the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ARF meetings.
He also attended the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where India, the United States, Japan and Australia where the the four sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and support for ASEAN centrality. (ANI)
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