The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their intent to strengthen cooperation on counter‑terrorism and related security challenges following meetings in New Delhi this week.
High‑level talks and the tenth joint working group
MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George received the Uzbekistan co‑chair of the India‑Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter‑Terrorism, Pirimkulov Gulomjon Shodmonkulovich, for talks on bilateral cooperation. The MEA also said the 10th meeting of the India‑Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter‑Terrorism took place on 22 October 2026 in New Delhi. That session was co‑chaired by MEA Additional Secretary (Counter Terrorism) Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan and Mr Pirimkulov.
According to the MEA, discussions covered threats posed by terrorist groups both globally and in the two countries’ respective regions, and addressed a range of evolving challenges to counter‑terrorism.
“They discussed India‑Uzbekistan cooperation in counter‑terrorism and other issues of mutual interest, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation.” — Ministry of External Affairs (post on X)
Agenda and areas of collaboration
The MEA statement listed several specific topics the two sides exchanged views on:
- countering extremism and radicalisation
- combating financing of terrorism
- preventing the use of technology for terrorist purposes
- the nexus between transnational organised crime and terrorism
The two sides also discussed measures to bolster cooperation through information sharing, capacity building and the exchange of best practices. The MEA said both delegations considered prospects for developing cooperation between the relevant agencies of India and Uzbekistan and agreed to enhance collaboration in multilateral fora.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | New Delhi |
| Date of JWG meeting | 22 October 2026 |
| Indian co‑chair | Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary (Counter Terrorism), MEA |
| Uzbek co‑chair | Pirimkulov Gulomjon Shodmonkulovich, Head of Department for Cooperation with South Asian, Near, Middle Eastern and African Countries, MFA Uzbekistan |
The MEA said both sides reaffirmed commitment to strengthening cooperation in multilateral mechanisms, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation — Regional Anti‑Terrorist Structure (SCO‑RATS) and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG), as part of their broader security engagement.
While the MEA’s statement set out the topics discussed and the institutional framework for cooperation, it did not list specific new operational arrangements, equipment transfers or a timeline for implementation. The emphasis in official remarks was on expanding information exchange, training and institutional links between agencies dealing with counter‑terrorism and financial investigations.
For Indian readers tracking regional security ties, the meetings underline continuing attention in New Delhi to deepen partnerships in Central Asia on counter‑terrorism and financial controls, areas New Delhi has prioritised alongside diplomatic and economic engagement in recent years.
