A Borderless Threat, A Shared Resolve: India and Indonesia's Counter-Terrorism Partnership

The seventh Joint Working Group meeting should be seen as part of a continuing effort to translate leadership-level commitments into regular institutional engagement. The planned NSG interaction is a useful step in this direction, particularly if it leads to sustained exchanges and identifiable capacity-building initiatives.

In a world where radical ideas travel at the speed of a click, security cannot afford to move at the pace of a diplomatic calendar. Terrorist networks have become fairly adept at exploiting geographical boundaries, financial systems and digital platforms, while governments continue to grapple with the institutional and legal limitations of addressing threats that rarely remain confined to one country. This widening gap makes sustained international cooperation an essential part of modern counter-terrorism efforts.

The seventh meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, held in New Delhi on November 12, 2026, assumes importance in this context. Both countries reiterated their zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and discussed a range of emerging security concerns, including cross-border terrorism, radicalisation, terrorist financing and the misuse of new technologies. The discussions reflected a shared understanding that terrorist organisations are constantly adapting their methods, requiring security institutions to strengthen cooperation beyond conventional diplomatic engagement.

India and Indonesia have strong reasons to deepen this partnership. Their geographical positions, regional responsibilities and expanding economic engagement give them a common interest in maintaining stability across South and Southeast Asia. The meeting, co-chaired by Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Mr. Dionnisius Elvan Swasono, Deputy for International Cooperation at Indonesia’s National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), brought together representatives of relevant departments and agencies from both countries. Its significance lies in the effort to translate shared political commitments into sustained institutional cooperation.

A Threat That No Longer Respects Borders

Cross-border terrorism remains a serious national security concern for India, with implications extending beyond territorial security to regional stability and international peace. Indonesia, meanwhile, has considerable experience in confronting extremist networks and violent radicalisation. Regular exchanges between their security establishments can help both countries understand changing patterns of terrorist activity and identify connections that might otherwise escape the attention of individual agencies.

The challenge has become more complicated as terrorist organisations operate through networks that extend across national jurisdictions. Recruitment can take place online, financial resources can move through multiple channels and extremist propaganda can reach audiences far removed from the organisation’s geographical base. Differences in national laws and enforcement capabilities can also create opportunities for these networks to exploit institutional gaps.

Terrorists have discovered the convenience of a borderless world, while governments must recognise the necessity of borderless cooperation. Regular intelligence exchanges and consultations on regional security developments can help narrow the gaps between national responses. The Joint Working Group provides an institutional framework for maintaining this engagement, allowing both sides to examine emerging threats and strengthen coordination through their respective agencies.

For India and Indonesia, the value of these exchanges also lies in their ability to bring different national experiences into a common security assessment. Understanding how extremist networks operate in different environments can improve threat identification and help both countries prepare for challenges that may have connections beyond their immediate neighbourhoods.

The Battle Is Extending Into Financial and Digital Networks

One of the more important aspects of the meeting was its attention to radicalisation, terrorist financing and the misuse of the internet and emerging technologies. These concerns reflect the changing methods through which terrorist organisations sustain their activities, making it necessary for governments to address the networks that support violence rather than concentrate exclusively on the attacks themselves.

The experience of the Islamic State (ISIS) offers a useful illustration. At the height of its territorial expansion in 2015, the organisation generated substantial revenue through oil sales, extortion, taxation and the seizure of assets. Its financial model demonstrated how an extremist organisation could develop multiple sources of income to sustain recruitment, logistics and military operations. The subsequent campaign against ISIS also showed why weakening its territorial control had to be accompanied by efforts to disrupt its financial networks and sources of revenue.

Terror financing remains a persistent challenge because the resources required to sustain extremist activities can move through illicit financial channels and wider criminal networks.

Cooperation between financial intelligence institutions and law-enforcement agencies is therefore essential to identify suspicious transactions, trace funding sources and prevent terrorist organisations from exploiting gaps in financial regulation.

Radicalisation presents a different but equally difficult problem. Digital platforms have made extremist propaganda more accessible, allowing recruitment and ideological influence to extend across geographical boundaries. Emerging technologies have also created additional opportunities for terrorist organisations to exploit digital vulnerabilities and communication networks. Counter-terrorism agencies must consequently strengthen their technological capabilities while improving preventive measures against violent extremism.

The discussions on the nexus between organised crime and terrorism deserve similar attention. Criminal networks can provide terrorist organisations with financial resources, logistical support and access to illicit markets. Their activities may serve different purposes, but the connections between them can make counter-terrorism investigations considerably more difficult. Closer cooperation between security agencies and financial institutions will be necessary to address these overlapping networks.

Connecting Bilateral Cooperation With the Wider International Response

India and Indonesia also reaffirmed their commitment to working together through the United Nations, ASEAN, BRICS and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Their engagement across these four platforms provides an important opportunity to connect bilateral counter-terrorism efforts with wider international initiatives.

The United Nations remains central to global counter-terrorism frameworks and the development of common international standards. ASEAN provides Indonesia and its regional partners with an important mechanism for addressing security challenges across Southeast Asia, while BRICS offers another platform for cooperation among major emerging economies. FATF, meanwhile, plays a significant role in strengthening international safeguards against money laundering and terrorist financing.

The importance of these institutions lies in their ability to improve coordination between countries that face common threats but operate under different legal and administrative systems. Terrorist financing investigations, for instance, may require information from several jurisdictions, while intelligence concerning extremist networks can have implications for countries far beyond the location where a threat first emerges. International cooperation helps address these gaps and strengthens the effectiveness of national responses.

The wider economic relationship between India and Indonesia provides another reason to maintain regional stability. Bilateral trade increased from approximately USD 4.3 billion in 2005-06 to USD 28.16 billion in 2024-25, reflecting more than sixfold growth in less than two decades. This expanding commercial relationship has increased the importance of a stable regional environment for both countries.

Geography further reinforces their shared interests. The Strait of Malacca, situated between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, remains one of the world’s most important maritime passages. Approximately 23.2 million barrels of petroleum and other liquids passed through the strait every day during the first half of 2025, accounting for roughly 29 per cent of global seaborne petroleum flows.

For India, the security of these maritime routes carries considerable economic importance because of their role in international trade and energy supplies. Indonesia’s geographical position gives it an important place in discussions concerning the stability of the wider Indo-Pacific. Although maritime security was not the principal subject of the Joint Working Group meeting, the broader relationship between the two countries rests partly on their shared interest in maintaining a secure regional environment.

Turning Political Commitments Into Institutional Preparedness

An important practical outcome of the New Delhi engagement is the planned visit of the Indonesian delegation to the headquarters of India’s National Security Guard (NSG) on November 13 to explore avenues for bilateral capacity-building. The visit provides an opportunity to extend cooperation beyond diplomatic consultations and encourage closer interaction between specialised security institutions.

Counter-terrorism preparedness depends considerably on the capabilities of the agencies responsible for responding to threats. Professional exchanges, training opportunities and institutional interaction can help improve operational understanding while allowing both countries to identify areas where their respective experiences can be useful. Such engagement also provides a practical dimension to the commitments made during bilateral meetings.

The political understanding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has provided a wider foundation for this cooperation. During their meeting in July 2026, both leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism. They also welcomed the early conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Counter-Terrorism, which was expected to be signed in the near future.

The seventh Joint Working Group meeting should therefore be seen as part of a continuing effort to translate leadership-level commitments into regular institutional engagement. The planned NSG interaction is a useful step in this direction, particularly if it leads to sustained exchanges and identifiable capacity-building initiatives.

Keeping the Partnership Moving Forward

The decision to hold the eighth meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in Jakarta on a mutually convenient date provides continuity to the bilateral process. Regular consultations are necessary because terrorist networks constantly adapt their methods, requiring both countries to review their threat assessments and identify emerging areas of vulnerability.

The next phase of engagement should build on the New Delhi discussions by strengthening intelligence cooperation and expanding institutional capacity-building. Greater attention to terrorist financing, online radicalisation and the misuse of emerging technologies will also be necessary. Cooperation through the UN, ASEAN, BRICS and FATF should complement these bilateral efforts and contribute to a more coordinated international response.

India and Indonesia have established a broad-based partnership encompassing economic relations and regional security. Their expanding trade relationship and shared interest in a stable Indo-Pacific provide a strong foundation for closer engagement. Counter-terrorism cooperation adds another important dimension, particularly as extremist organisations exploit the same international connections that facilitate legitimate commerce and communication.

The frequency of bilateral meetings will matter less than the practical improvements they produce in institutional preparedness and coordination. Terrorism does not wait for the next Joint Working Group meeting. Neither should counter-terrorism cooperation. For India and Indonesia, the priority must remain the ability to identify threats early, disrupt the networks that sustain them and ensure that national security institutions can respond effectively. In a region where economic prosperity depends largely on connectivity and stability, closer cooperation against terrorism is an important investment in the security of both countries.