India and Germany have sharpened their counter-terrorism cooperation following two major terror attacks in April 2025 and November 2025, using their latest bilateral talks in New Delhi to underline a more coordinated response to what they called an “evolving and increasingly technology-driven threat environment.”
The 10th meeting of the India–Germany Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism was held in the capital yesterday, co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Konrad Arz von Straussenburg, Director at Germany’s Directorate-General for International Order, the United Nations and Arms Control.
Fresh Condemnation of 2025 Attacks
Both delegations strongly condemned the 22 April 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and the 10 November 2025 blast near Red Fort, which killed several civilians.
An Indian official said the attacks “reinforce the need for a far more vigilant and coordinated approach,” while a German delegate remarked that such incidents “underscore why democratic partners must stand firmly against terrorism in every form.”
The two sides reiterated that terrorism cannot be justified “under any circumstances,” including cross-border attacks.
Spotlight on New-Age Terror Threats
During the meeting, the delegations exchanged assessments on emerging terror risks in Europe, South Asia and beyond.
According to officials, discussions focused heavily on online radicalisation, AI-enabled extremist propaganda, drone misuse, cryptocurrency-based terror financing, and challenges in designating terrorist groups under global frameworks.
One participant described the talks as “a realistic assessment of how quickly terror networks are adapting to new technologies,” adding that governments “must respond with equal agility.”
Issues related to judicial cooperation, capacity-building, and evidence-sharing mechanisms were also reviewed.
Strengthening Multilateral Coordination
Both countries stressed the need to push for stronger collective action at global platforms. They reaffirmed closer cooperation at the:
- United Nations
- Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF)
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
- No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference
A senior German official said the two countries would work toward “more coherent international standards” on technology misuse and financial tracking.
Indian officials added that upcoming UN discussions present “a critical opportunity to align global responses to fast-changing terror tools.”
Next Steps and Future Collaboration
The session also explored new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, including joint training, data and intelligence exchanges, and deeper collaboration on investigations involving technology-led threats.
Both sides agreed to hold the next JWG meeting in Germany, with dates to be finalised.
Defence Dialogue Signals Wider Strategic Convergence
The counter-terror talks came shortly after the India–Germany High Defence Committee meeting on 18 November 2025, where senior officials called for deeper defence-industrial collaboration and expanded joint military exercises.
A defence official familiar with those discussions said India and Germany “are clearly moving toward a more comprehensive security partnership,” covering counter-terrorism, defence technology, intelligence cooperation and regional stability.
