Morocco and india strengthen counter-terrorism ties in new delhi talks

In New Delhi on June 22, Morocco and India broadened their collaboration against terrorism by addressing shadowy financial networks, the misuse of technology, and the intertwined operations of transnational criminal groups and armed factions. The second joint working group meeting on counter-terrorism established a shared strategy built on intelligence sharing, institutional capacity-building, and alignment within key multilateral platforms.

The session was co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Hicham Baali, Head of the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ) under the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN). Discussions focused on the threats facing both nations, as well as the global flow of extremist ideologies, illicit funds, technical tools, and terrorist operatives.

Both delegations issued a firm condemnation of terrorism «in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism». Representatives also denounced the April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the November 10, 2025 incident near Delhi’s Red Fort.

tackling terrorist financing, radicalization, and digital threats

The talks covered violent extremism, radicalization pathways, terror financing, and the weaponization of technology for criminal purposes. The joint statement framed these exchanges as an assessment of «current and emerging challenges in counter-terrorism», requiring deep analysis of recruitment tactics, funding sources, communication channels, and digital tools exploited by clandestine networks.

Special attention was given to «the use of technology for terrorist purposes»—spanning encrypted messaging, online propaganda, illicit fund transfers, and tools that enable attack planning. While no specific tools were named, the initiative is part of a wider effort to enhance intelligence, prevention, and legal response mechanisms.

Another key focus was the overlap between «transnational organized crime and terrorism», where illicit financing, logistics chains, forged documents, smuggling routes, and border-crossing networks facilitate the movement of people, resources, and equipment across borders.

The delegations also analyzed the «global movement of terrorists», referring to the international travel of armed group members, returnees from conflict zones, and the risks posed by clandestine travel routes. Both countries aim to synchronize their assessments to better track these movements and streamline information-sharing between their relevant agencies.

building bilateral resilience and global alignment

Morocco and India explored ways to «deepen bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation through information exchange, capacity-building, and best practice sharing». This includes leveraging law enforcement expertise, threat analysis, specialized training, and comparative methodological insights from both sides.

The delegations reaffirmed their commitment to joint action within the United Nations (UN), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF). These three platforms were highlighted as central to international coordination on financial standards, violent extremism prevention, judicial cooperation, and state-led knowledge exchange.

Additionally, the two governments agreed to hold a third joint working group meeting in Morocco at a mutually determined date. This upcoming session will continue evaluating regional and global threats while translating the New Delhi commitments into stronger, concrete bilateral mechanisms.