India, Egypt deepen counter-terrorism cooperation at fourth joint working group meeting in Cairo

New Delhi, May 1: India and Egypt have pledged to deepen their cooperation in the fight against terrorism, following the fourth meeting of their Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism held on April 30 in Cairo. The Indian delegation was led by Ambassador K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while Egypt’s team was headed by Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials from multiple security and intelligence agencies of both countries participated in the discussions.

The two sides strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which targeted both domestic and international tourists. Egypt expressed its unequivocal support for India in addressing threats to its national security, describing the attack as “heinous” and reaffirming solidarity with India against all forms of violence and extremism. In a joint statement, both delegations committed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation to counter terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations.” Discussions ranged from regional terror threats to the evolving challenges posed by using emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.

The two countries discussed the growing misuse of cyberspace, cryptocurrencies, and unmanned aerial systems by terrorist groups. They also agreed to expand collaboration in anti-money laundering operations, combating drug trafficking, and tackling organised crime. India and Egypt also emphasised the importance of capacity building, training, and knowledge exchange in areas such as cyber security, artificial intelligence for counter-terrorism applications, and sharing of best practices and intelligence.

On the multilateral front, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing coordination within global forums including the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Both countries reiterated their support for the early adoption of the long-pending UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), underscoring the need for a unified international legal framework to address terrorism. The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold the fifth session of the Joint Working Group in India at a mutually convenient date.