India-Egypt JWG condemns Pahalgam, Red Fort attacks at 5th counter-terror meet
Synopsis
At their 5th Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, India and Egypt jointly condemned both the Pahalgam and Red Fort attacks — and put drone and AI-enabled terrorism on the formal bilateral agenda for the first time. With the next session shifting to Cairo, the India-Egypt security partnership is moving from rhetoric to institutional depth.
Key Takeaways
India and Egypt held the 5th JWG on Counter Terrorism in New Delhi on 20 May 2025 .
Both nations jointly condemned the Pahalgam, J&K attack of 22 April 2025 and the Red Fort, New Delhi terror incident of 10 November 2025 .
Egypt reaffirmed solidarity with India against terrorism targeting the country's security and stability.
Both sides committed to multilateral cooperation through the UN , BRICS , FATF , and GCTF , and backed early adoption of the CCIT .
Emerging threats — including UAVs , drones , and AI used for terror — were formally placed on the bilateral agenda.
The next JWG meeting will be hosted by Egypt on a mutually agreed date.
India and Egypt strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on 22 April 2025, and the terror incident near the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 10 November 2025, calling for full accountability of all perpetrators and their supporters. The joint condemnation came at the 5th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism, held in New Delhi on 20 May 2025, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Key Developments at the JWG Meeting
The meeting was co-chaired by senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, with relevant security and intelligence agencies of both countries participating. It was the first JWG session under the framework of the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership to address both attacks explicitly.
Egypt reaffirmed its solidarity with India against all forms of terrorism aimed at undermining the country's security and stability. Both sides emphasised that confronting terrorism requires 'concerted action in a sustained and comprehensive manner,' the MEA stated.
Multilateral Counter-Terror Commitments
The two nations renewed their commitment to strengthen multilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism, including through the United Nations (UN), BRICS, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), and other international platforms. They also reiterated their support for the early finalisation and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) — a long-pending multilateral instrument that India has championed for over two decades.
Emerging Threats on the Agenda
Both delegations reviewed a broad range of traditional and emerging terrorist threats, including recruitment, the abuse of technology for terrorist purposes, and terror financing. Notably, both sides expressed concern over the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, and artificial intelligence (AI) for terrorist activities — a threat that has grown sharply across conflict zones globally.
Areas of practical cooperation discussed included training and capacity building, cyber security, judicial cooperation, exchange of best practices, and bilateral and multilateral information sharing.
What Comes Next
The two sides decided that the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism will be held in Egypt on a mutually convenient date. The decision to alternate host nations signals a deepening institutional rhythm in India-Egypt security ties, which have expanded significantly since the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership.
Point of View
Where India has sought to isolate cross-border terror narratives. The inclusion of drones and AI on the formal agenda reflects a realistic update to threat assessment, but the real test is whether information-sharing moves beyond declarations into operational cooperation. The CCIT has been pending for over two decades; reiterating support costs little without movement in the UN Sixth Committee.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was decided at the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism meeting?
At the 5th JWG on Counter Terrorism held in New Delhi on 20 May 2025, India and Egypt condemned the Pahalgam and Red Fort terror attacks, pledged to strengthen multilateral counter-terror cooperation, and agreed to hold the next meeting in Egypt. Both sides also discussed emerging threats including drone and AI-enabled terrorism.
Which attacks did India and Egypt jointly condemn?
The two countries condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on 22 April 2025, and the terror incident near the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 10 November 2025. They called for all those involved and their supporters to be held accountable and brought to justice.
What multilateral platforms did India and Egypt commit to for counter-terrorism?
Both nations renewed their commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation through the United Nations, BRICS, FATF, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). They also reiterated support for the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
Why is the India-Egypt counter-terrorism partnership significant?
The partnership operates under the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership framework and provides a formal bilateral channel for security cooperation. Egypt's solidarity with India on specific domestic terror incidents, and the joint focus on emerging threats like drones and AI, signals a deepening of ties beyond traditional diplomacy.
When will the next India-Egypt JWG on Counter Terrorism be held?
The next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism will be held in Egypt on a mutually convenient date, as agreed at the 20 May 2025 session in New Delhi.
