External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for zero tolerance against terrorism while advocating stronger maritime security, disaster resilience, cyber cooperation, and responsible artificial intelligence at the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting.

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• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Manila, emphasizing stronger regional cooperation to address emerging political and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
• Jaishankar called for zero tolerance against terrorism, stressing that terrorist acts must have consequences and urging countries to dismantle financial networks supporting terrorist organizations.
• India welcomed the Manila Plan of Action, stating that its five pillars closely align with India’s Indo-Pacific vision focused on peace, security, resilience, and regional cooperation.
• The minister highlighted India’s commitment to disaster resilience through the sharing of best practices, standard operating procedures, humanitarian assistance, and joint disaster response exercises.
• Jaishankar noted India’s support for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and highlighted relief operations undertaken after cyclones and earthquakes in several partner countries.
• India, as co-chair of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia, is preparing a compendium of global counter-terrorism best practices.
• On maritime security, Jaishankar highlighted India’s contributions through the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region, maritime domain awareness initiatives, and naval deployments to combat piracy and safeguard global trade.
• The minister also advocated a responsible and human-centric approach to artificial intelligence, stronger international cooperation against cybercrime, and support for a legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct consistent with UNCLOS 1982.