BIMSTEC Nations Strengthen Cooperation Against Terrorism in 11th Working Group Meet

Representatives of the seven BIMSTEC countries gathered in New Delhi for the 11th Joint Working Group meeting on 28‑29 September 2026, aiming to deepen cooperation against terrorism and cross‑border crime. Chaired by Dr. Suhel Ejaz Khan, Additional Secretary (Counter‑Terrorism) at the Ministry of External Affairs, the forum provided a venue for candid dialogue on both legacy and emerging threats.

Key discussions revolved around the smuggling of precursor chemicals, psychotropic drugs, and the financing channels that sustain extremist networks. Sub‑group reports on human trafficking, narcotics control, and money‑laundering were scrutinised, leading to actionable proposals for synchronized patrols, shared databases, and joint capacity‑building programmes.

The meeting reaffirmed BIMSTEC’s role—originally founded in 1997 as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi‑Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation—as a strategic conduit for India’s Act East policy. The collective commitment to security, disaster management and energy cooperation underscores the group’s expanding relevance in the region.