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

Morocco and India have broadened their anti-terrorism collaboration during a high-level meeting in New Delhi on June 22, expanding discussions beyond traditional security threats to include clandestine funding networks, criminal exploitation of technology, and the intertwined operations of transnational crime syndicates and armed groups. The second joint working group session, co-chaired by senior officials from both nations, established a unified strategy centered on intelligence sharing, institutional capacity building, and alignment within key multilateral platforms.

Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Hicham Baali, Head of the National Brigade of the Judicial Police within Morocco’s Directorate General for National Security (DGSN), led the discussions. The agenda covered regional threats as well as the global spread of extremist ideologies, illicit financial flows, technological tools, and the transnational movement of terrorist operatives.

The delegations issued a joint statement «unequivocally and strongly condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism». They also denounced the April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the November 10, 2025 incident near New Delhi’s Red Fort.

tackling terror financing, radicalization and digital threats

The talks addressed violent extremism, radicalization pathways, terror financing mechanisms, and the misuse of technology for criminal purposes. The communiqué framed these exchanges as a joint assessment of «current and emerging challenges in counter-terrorism», requiring detailed analysis of recruitment tactics, financial sources, communication channels, and digital infrastructure exploited by clandestine networks.

A key focus was placed on «the use of technology for terrorist purposes», encompassing encrypted communication tools, online propaganda, fund transfers, and logistical systems that could facilitate attack planning. While specific tools were not disclosed, the framework ties this dimension to enhanced intelligence cooperation, prevention measures, and judicial responses.

Rabat and New Delhi also examined the convergence of transnational organized crime and terrorism—a link that spans illicit financing, logistics networks, forged documents, smuggling routes, and cross-border movement of personnel and materials. The delegations emphasized the need to identify and disrupt these interconnected systems.

Another priority was the «global movement of terrorists», referring to the international travel of armed group members, returnees from conflict zones, and the risks posed by clandestine migration corridors. Both sides agreed to refine their assessments to better detect these movements and streamline information sharing between their relevant agencies.

strengthening bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism efforts

The two countries outlined plans to «deepen bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism through intelligence exchange, capacity building, and the sharing of best practices». This includes leveraging police expertise, threat analysis, specialized training, and comparative evaluations of each nation’s approaches.

The delegations reaffirmed their commitment to joint action within the United Nations (UN), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). These platforms were highlighted as central to international coordination on financial standards, violent extremism prevention, judicial cooperation, and cross-border experience sharing.

Additionally, Morocco and India agreed to hold a third joint working group meeting in Rabat at a mutually convenient time. This upcoming session will build on the New Delhi outcomes, advancing concrete bilateral mechanisms to address both regional and global threats identified during the talks.