India-Singapore JWG renews counter-terrorism cooperation at New Delhi meet
Synopsis
India and Singapore have doubled down on counter-terrorism cooperation at their 5th Joint Working Group meeting in New Delhi, jointly condemning the Pahalgam and Red Fort attacks and agreeing to tighten information sharing across the UN, ASEAN, and FATF platforms — a signal of deepening strategic alignment as cross-border threats grow more complex.
Key Takeaways
India and Singapore held the 5th JWG Meeting on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crime in New Delhi on 8 May 2025 .
The JWG condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack (22 April 2025) and the Red Fort terror incident (10 November 2025) in the strongest terms.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee framework and across FATF and ASEAN platforms.
Discussions covered terrorist recruitment , radicalisation, technology abuse, financing of terrorism, cybercrimes, and drug trafficking.
Singapore's delegation visited India's Anti-Scam Centre ; both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on transnational scams.
The next JWG meeting will be held in Singapore on a mutually agreed date.
India and Singapore have renewed their commitment to strengthen multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, including through the United Nations, ASEAN, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and other global platforms, following the 5th Meeting of the India-Singapore Joint Working Group (JWG) on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crime held in New Delhi on 8 May 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the outcome through a joint press statement on Friday.
Key Outcomes of the JWG Meeting
The meeting was co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in India's Ministry of External Affairs, and Ngiam Shih Chun, Deputy Secretary (Policy) in Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs. Both sides, as strategic partners, underscored the critical importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing terrorism and transnational crime.
The JWG issued a strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, reaffirming a principle of zero tolerance. Notably, the joint statement specifically condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi on 10 November 2025, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable.
Threats Discussed and Cooperation Agreed
Delegates discussed a wide range of traditional and emerging threats, including terrorist recruitment, cross-border movement of terrorists, radicalisation, abuse of technology for terrorist purposes, and financing of terrorism. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global terrorism threat assessments, cybercrimes, drug trafficking, and the nexus between transnational organised crime and terrorism.
The JWG agreed to further strengthen information sharing to enhance the timeliness and effectiveness of responses to cross-border threats. Cooperation was also discussed in combating terrorists and terror groups listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. Both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in law enforcement, capacity building, and the sharing of best practices.
Visit to India's Anti-Scam Centre
During their stay in New Delhi, the Singapore delegation visited India's Anti-Scam Centre. Both sides emphasised the importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational scams and agreed to strengthen ties through information exchanges, capacity building, and the sharing of best practices in this domain.
What Comes Next
The two countries have agreed to hold the next JWG meeting on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crime in Singapore on a mutually convenient date. This sustained bilateral engagement reflects the growing strategic depth of the India-Singapore partnership at a time when cross-border security threats are evolving rapidly.
Point of View
' a date that falls after the stated meeting date of 8 May 2025 — a chronological anomaly in the source statement that warrants clarification from the MEA. Beyond the optics, the real test of this JWG's value lies in operationalising information-sharing commitments, which have historically been the weakest link in bilateral counter-terrorism frameworks.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was decided at the India-Singapore JWG meeting on counter-terrorism?
At the 5th JWG Meeting held in New Delhi on 8 May 2025, India and Singapore agreed to strengthen multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation through the UN, ASEAN, and FATF, enhance bilateral information sharing, and deepen collaboration in law enforcement and capacity building.
Which terrorist attacks did India and Singapore jointly condemn?
The JWG condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi on 10 November 2025, calling for full accountability for those responsible.
Who co-chaired the India-Singapore JWG meeting?
The meeting was co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in India's Ministry of External Affairs, and Ngiam Shih Chun, Deputy Secretary (Policy) in Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs.
What emerging threats did the India-Singapore JWG discuss?
The JWG discussed terrorist recruitment, cross-border movement of terrorists, radicalisation, abuse of technology for terrorist purposes, financing of terrorism, cybercrimes, drug trafficking, and the nexus between transnational organised crime and terrorism.
When will the next India-Singapore JWG counter-terrorism meeting be held?
The next JWG Meeting on Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crime will be held in Singapore on a mutually convenient date, as agreed at the New Delhi session.
