India and Philippines recently concluded their second Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Counter Terrorism in Manila. The discussions focused on the evolving regional and global terrorism landscape. The two-day meeting highlighted areas of collaboration in counter terrorism, law enforcement, judicial cooperation, and capacity building.
Both countries strongly denounced terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. They specifically condemned the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India on April 22, 2025, and near the Red Fort in New Delhi on November 10, 2025. The Philippines expressed solidarity and support for India’s anti-terrorism efforts.
Chaired by Vinod Bahade from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Marshall Louis M Alferez from the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs, the meeting emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation to address current and emerging counter terrorism challenges. They discussed the need for information sharing, actions against the misuse of technology for terrorist activities, and combating terror financing.
The two sides underscored the significance of international collaboration in combating terrorism comprehensively and continuously. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in various multilateral forums, including the United Nations, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), APG, and ARF. Additionally, the Indian delegation engaged with senior officials of the National Security Council and the Anti-Money Laundering Council of the Philippines during the visit.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Joint Working Group would take place in India at a mutually convenient time.
