Says ‘Op Sindoor Showcased Battle-Tested Anti-Terror Approach”
New Delhi | October, 29: Reaffirming New Delhi’s readiness to share its operational experience with regional partners to bolster collective security, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said ‘Operation Sindoor’ demonstrated India’s proactive, battle-tested approach to counter-terrorism.
Addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, Singh said India’s counter-terrorism expertise had been shaped by decades of confronting complex cross-border security challenges. “Op Sindoor decisively demonstrated India’s proactive, battle-tested doctrine,” he said, adding that the operation dismantled terrorist infrastructure and established a firm red line against state-sponsored terrorism.
Singh said India is prepared to share its experience with ADMM-Plus partners through joint exercises, capacity-building programmes, and intelligence sharing, stressing that terrorism knows no borders. He noted that India and Malaysia were co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024–2027 cycle.
Stressing India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and a secure, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, Singh said regional peace required mutual trust and collective responsibility. Highlighting maritime security as a key pillar, he noted that 2026 was designated the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and that the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise had been conducted.
Singh added that the Indian Navy had maintained an uninterrupted presence in volatile corridors, including the Gulf of Aden, since 2008, escorting merchant vessels and thwarting hijackings. He proposed a dedicated defence ‘Youth Bridge’ to strengthen India-ASEAN connections and support digital innovation and capacity building to ensure a resilient Indo-Pacific.
