Powerful Unity Drives India and Egypt’s Counterterror Cooperation

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The 4th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism convened in Cairo on April 30, 2025, marked a significant milestone in India-Egypt counter-terrorism cooperation. Hosted by Ambassador K. D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the gathering brought together senior officials from intelligence, law enforcement, financial oversight, and cybersecurity agencies of both nations. Against a backdrop of rising regional tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam attack—which left 28 civilians dead, most of them tourists—participants articulated shared concerns over evolving terror threats and reconfirmed their commitment to joint action.

India-Egypt Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Setting the Stage

India and Egypt have steadily deepened bilateral ties through successive Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings since the first ‘Counter Terrorism’ round in New Delhi on February 16, 2023. This fourth session revisited past achievements, including intelligence liaison arrangements initiated in 2024 and an operational protocol for rapid sharing of terror indicators. Egypt’s renewed pledge “to confront all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining the country’s security and stability” underscored mutual support after the Pahalgam massacre, which targeted domestic and international visitors in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley MEA IndiaWikipedia. Such expressions of solidarity reinforce institutional backing for coordinated action across political, military, and financial domains.

Bilateral cooperation has already yielded tangible outcomes: joint training exercises on hostage rescue conducted in Alexandria last December built tactical interoperability, while a cyber-exchange pilot between India’s CERT-IN and Egypt’s NTRA enhanced detection of extremist online networks. Policy-level alignment on counter-radicalization programs—drawing on community engagement models in Upper Egypt and India’s deradicalization frameworks—lays the groundwork for predictive risk assessments. Cumulatively, these efforts demonstrate an evolving partnership that leverages complementary strengths, from India’s experience combating homegrown insurgencies to Egypt’s expertise in regional intelligence coordination.

Technology and Terrorist Financing: Navigating Emerging Challenges

The Cairo discussions gave prominence to disruptive technologies exploited by extremist groups. Delegates assessed the weaponization of unmanned aerial systems for reconnaissance and payload delivery, as well as encrypted messaging apps for operational planning. A shared concern centered on cryptocurrencies and virtual assets used to move funds across jurisdictions with minimal oversight. FATF Recommendation 15, which extends AML/CFT measures to virtual asset service providers, was highlighted as a critical framework for regulating crypto channels FATF. Both sides agreed to adapt national regulations to close compliance gaps and to exchange typologies of crypto laundering schemes.

Protocols under review include standardized suspicious transaction reporting for crypto platforms and guidelines for ‘travel rule’ implementation, mandating collection of originator and beneficiary information by virtual asset service providers. Joint workshops will soon train financial intelligence units (FIUs) on on-chain analytics tools and cross-border subpoenas. Recognizing the nexus between illicit drug trade, organized crime, and terror financing, India and Egypt also resolved to strengthen coordination among customs, police, and financial regulators to interdict dual-use shipments that fund extremist activities. This holistic approach to terrorist financing extends beyond traditional banking to encompass high-risk non-bank sectors and digital currency ecosystems.

Capacity Building and Strategic Information Sharing

Enhancing human and technical capacity emerged as a key pillar of the partnership. Both nations committed to expand officer exchanges, cyber-range simulations, and AI-driven threat modeling initiatives. Egypt’s new counter-terrorism center in Cairo will host Indian experts to share best practices in data fusion and behavioral analytics. Likewise, India will host Egyptian trainees at its National Forensic Sciences University to gain insights into advanced biometric forensics and unmanned system countermeasures.

Cybersecurity collaboration featured prominently, with both sides pledging to integrate AI platforms that detect extremist propaganda in real time and to coordinate takedown operations. Combined efforts will target recruitment networks and encrypted forums, leveraging machine-learning algorithms to flag suspicious content. Regular video-conferences between CERT-IN and Egypt’s Cybercrime Unit will expedite incident response and intelligence fusion. This mutual exchange builds on earlier accords, such as the 2024 memorandum on AI ethics in security, and represents a forward-leaning stance that applies cutting-edge technology to counter-terrorism missions.

Information sharing protocols were also refined to expedite timely exchange of operational leads. A dedicated, encrypted liaison channel connecting India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Egypt’s National Security Agency (NSA) will facilitate rapid vetting of terror suspects and their networks. Regular situation-report sitreps will ensure that emerging threats—such as lone-actor radicalization or cross-border recruitment—are addressed collaboratively. These mechanisms bridge institutional hurdles and underscore a shared recognition that real-time data sharing is indispensable for pre-empting attacks.

Beyond bilateral initiatives, India and Egypt explored joint strategies in key international forums. Both reaffirmed their support for early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), aiming to codify binding global standards for terrorism prevention and prosecution MEA India. They also resolved to coordinate positions at FATF plenaries to push for accelerated implementation of virtual asset guidelines and non-profit organization risk assessments.

Within BRICS and the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), India and Egypt will co-sponsor roundtables on hybrid threats, combining cyber attacks with kinetic operations. Cooperation at the United Nations will prioritize technical assistance to countries in the Global South, drawing on Egypt’s regional leadership in North Africa and India’s outreach in South Asia. Joint proposals are under preparation to bolster capacity-building grants under the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, with a particular focus on AI ethics frameworks and financial inclusion measures that mitigate terrorist financing risks.

Legally, both countries agreed to harmonize extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties, streamlining cross-border prosecutions. Draft amendments will address cybercrime complexities and financial secrecy jurisdictions. India and Egypt also plan to review domestic anti-money laundering laws to ensure alignment with the broader FATF standards, enhancing tracer provisions for illicit assets and tightening beneficial ownership disclosures.

Conclusion: Solidifying a Shared Security Vision

The Cairo meeting of the Joint Working Group marked a decisive step toward a resilient India-Egypt counter-terrorism cooperation architecture. By tackling emerging threats—ranging from crypto-enabled financing to drone warfare—and bolstering capacity through joint training, AI-enabled intelligence sharing, and legal harmonization, both nations are forging a model partnership. Their multilateral engagement further amplifies this collaboration, promoting global security norms and support for UN conventions. As the next JWG session is slated to convene in India, stakeholders anticipate deeper integration of technological safeguards, regulatory alignment on virtual assets, and expanded joint field exercises. This evolving alliance underscores a mutual resolve to safeguard citizens, preserve stability, and counter terrorism in all its manifestations.


Source: News X World, by Aishwarya Samant

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