The 4th Meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, held in Cairo on April 30, 2025, marked a significant milestone in bolstering bilateral efforts against terrorism. The two-day meeting brought together high-level officials from both countries, including Ambassador K. D. Dewal and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, as well as representatives of various agencies.
The joint working group strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which targeted domestic and international tourists. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for India in confronting all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country's security and stability. Both sides agreed to strengthen their joint efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The two nations also discussed ways to counter emerging challenges such as the use of technology for terrorist purposes, including cryptocurrencies, unmanned aerial systems, and cyber attacks. They exchanged views on terror threats in their respective countries and regions, highlighting the need for increased cooperation in this regard.
In addition, India and Egypt agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in anti-money laundering efforts, drug trafficking, and organized crime. Both sides committed to further strengthening ties in training and capacity building, cyber security, AI-powered counter-terrorism initiatives, and information sharing.
The joint working group also discussed multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism, including efforts within the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), and FATF. In this context, both sides exchanged views on enhancing the effectiveness of the GCTF and reiterated their commitment to finalizing the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at an early stage.
The next meeting of the Joint Working Group is scheduled to take place in India at a mutually convenient date, marking another significant step forward in the partnership between the two nations.