Addressing the inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for decisive regional cooperation to combat terrorism and organised crime.
Reaffirming India’s policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism, Shah urged member nations to ensure terrorist networks find no safe havens, training bases, or financial channels within the region.
Shah emphasised that collective security relies on mutual trust and aligned security frameworks. He advocated for timely exchange of actionable intelligence, joint coordination against terror financing, and robust legal assistance—including extradition mechanisms—to bring offenders to justice.
Highlighting the growing threat of narcotics trafficking, Shah noted that illegal drug proceeds directly finance organised crime and terrorism, compounded by dark web transactions and chemical diversion. He stressed that stopping drug syndicates demands a unified “whole-of-region” strategy.
BIMSTEC—comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—serves as a crucial regional platform bridging South and Southeast Asia.
