India and Morocco convened the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism on Monday, exchanging views on current and emerging challenges in counter-terrorism and discussing ways to bolster bilateral cooperation.
Discussions on Global and Regional Terror Threats
According to a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs, both sides deliberated on threats posed by terrorist groups globally and in their respective regions. They exchanged perspectives on countering violent extremism and radicalisation, combating the financing of terrorism, preventing the misuse of technology for terrorist purposes, the nexus between transnational organised crime and terrorism, and the global movement of terrorists.
The meeting was co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in the Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Hicham Baali, Head of the National Judicial Police Brigade at the Directorate General of the National Police of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Strong Condemnation of Terrorism
Both sides unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They specifically condemned the heinous terrorist attack on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India, and the terror incident on 10 November 2025 near the Red Fort, New Delhi, the statement noted.
Measures to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
India and Morocco deliberated on measures to enhance bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation through information sharing, capacity building, and sharing of best practices. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in multilateral fora, including the United Nations, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF).
The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Working Group in Morocco on a mutually convenient date.
Broader Defence and Security Ties
India and Morocco have longstanding ties across several fronts. Last year, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan held a bilateral meeting with Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Navy, reaffirming the steady progress in India-Morocco defence cooperation. According to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, the interaction focused on expanding avenues for defence exports, boosting collaboration among defence industries, and improving operational linkages through joint and multilateral exercises. The two sides also discussed ways to deepen maritime security cooperation.
The talks reviewed mechanisms for capacity building, streamlined information sharing, and cooperation in emerging domains. India reiterated its support to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces through military training, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercises, specialised courses, and professional military education. Both sides expressed their commitment to developing a long-term framework to strengthen practical cooperation, enhance capabilities, and build mutually beneficial defence partnerships.
