India and New Zealand have formally established a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, marking a significant step in bilateral security cooperation. The announcement was made by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon during a special media briefing on Saturday, held alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to New Zealand.
Shared Commitment Against Terrorism
Tandon emphasized that both nations are "fairly like-minded and tough" on terrorism and violent extremism. The Joint Working Group is designed to facilitate seamless intelligence sharing and reflects a deep shared commitment to neutralizing terror infrastructure. "India's position on terrorism and violent extremism is very well known. We will constantly remind the international community and our partners that this poses a significant threat to peace and security all over the world," Tandon said.
Responding to queries about the group's strategic significance—particularly regarding India's concerns over anti-India activities, including the extremist Khalistan referendum held in New Zealand in 2024—Tandon stated that the framework is part of a broader systemic push to isolate terror networks. "The Joint Working Group that we are establishing with New Zealand is just one of the many steps," he added.
No Double Standards
Underlining India's long-standing position, Tandon asserted, "We also know that there can be no double standard when you are tackling such a grave threat." The group was created under the newly adopted "India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030." The accompanying bilateral Joint Statement, issued by Prime Minister Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon, expressed "absolute condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism."
The statement specifically cited and condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, and the terror incident near the Red Fort in New Delhi on November 10, 2025. Both leaders called for a rigid, "zero-tolerance and consistent approach," committing to disrupt terror financing networks, eliminate safe havens, and utilize multilateral forums like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to force immediate, concrete action against UN-proscribed terrorist organizations and their financial sponsors.
Broader Strategic Dialogue
Beyond counter-terrorism, the MEA confirmed that the overall strategic dialogue extended to maintaining a "free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." Both nations strongly backed freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and called for comprehensive reforms within the UN Security Council.
