Kuala Lumpur, Feb 8 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, unequivocally denounced terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. The leaders advocated for a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and emphasized the need for unified global efforts to address it effectively and sustainably.

They reached a consensus on tackling radicalisation and violent extremism, thwarting the financial backing of terrorism, and preventing the exploitation of new technologies for malevolent purposes. This will be achieved through collaborative knowledge-sharing, best practice exchanges, and enhancing capacity building, as stated in the joint declaration following their meeting.

The statement highlighted the importance of recognizing the connections between terrorism and transnational organized crime. Modi and Ibrahim agreed to cooperate in this area, including sharing vital information and effective practices. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral alliances to combat terrorism, particularly within organizations such as the UN and FATF.

They expressed contentment with the strong defense collaboration between their nations, which includes regular exchanges, visits, and joint military exercises. They acknowledged the positive outcomes from the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) and its various subcommittees, particularly the establishment of a Strategic Affairs Working Group (SAWG) and the Su-30 Forum.

The leaders praised India’s consistent involvement in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus framework and welcomed the co-chairing with Malaysia of the Counter-Terrorism Working Group for the 2024-2027 term.

They extended invitations to all ADMM-Plus members for participation in the upcoming Expert Working Group on Counter Terrorism Table-Top Exercise (EWG CT TTX), which will be co-chaired by India and Malaysia in 2026.

Furthermore, Modi and Ibrahim encouraged the enhancement of maritime cooperation between India and Malaysia through regular goodwill and operational deployments. They appreciated recent visits, including the INS Sahyadri to Malaysia's Kemaman in October 2025 and the hydrographic vessel INS Sandhayak to Port Klang in July 2025.

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the ongoing naval interactions, including exercises such as Samudra Laksamana, MILAN, and the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME). They also noted the successful conduct of the India-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise, Harimau Shakti, held in December last year.

Additionally, Modi and Ibrahim agreed to streamline the movement of workers and professionals between India and Malaysia, welcoming ongoing visa liberalisation that has enhanced tourist inflows and business travel. They committed to further improving air connectivity between the two nations.