New Delhi, Oct 2 (NationPress) The 22nd edition of Air Staff Talks took place in New Delhi, where India and France focused on strengthening bilateral ties through joint training and the sharing of best practices, as announced by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday.

The discussions occurred between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force (FASF) in the National Capital from September 26 to October 1.

In a social media update, the IAF mentioned, "The 22nd edition of Air Staff Talks between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF) was conducted in New Delhi from 29 September to 01 October 2025."

Topics covered included enhancing bilateral cooperation through joint training, combined exercises, the exchange of ideas, professional military education, and sharing best practices. The meeting was co-chaired by Air Vice Marshal SK Taliyan and Brigadier General Nicolas Chambaz.

Earlier, on September 11, India and France convened the 17th Meeting of the India-France Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter-Terrorism in Paris.

Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all forms, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The Indian delegation was led by K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), MEA, while the French side was represented by Olivier Caron, French Counter-Terrorism Ambassador.

Officials from both nations condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 fatalities.

During the discussions, the delegations exchanged views on current threat assessments in their countries.

Topics included state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, terrorist activities in South Asia and the Middle East, and the increasing misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist groups.

The two nations also focused on challenges arising from radicalization and extremism, particularly online.

The dialogue emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to counter terrorist propaganda and online recruitment, a growing global concern.

France and India expressed interest in bolstering coordination on international platforms such as the United Nations, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the No Money for Terror (NMFT) initiative.

Moreover, the two countries explored expanding their counter-terrorism dialogue to cover organized crime, cybersecurity threats, and the exchange of information regarding online propaganda.

According to the MEA, the discussions on bilateral and multilateral cooperation centered on intensifying capacity-building measures through training and exercises, with cooperation in the UN, FATF, and NMFT highlighted.