Morocco and India have deepened their collaborative efforts against terrorism during a high-level meeting held in New Delhi on June 22. The second session of the joint Morocco-India counter-terrorism working group expanded its scope to include covert financial networks, misuse of technology for criminal purposes, and the intricate connections between transnational criminal organizations and armed groups. Additionally, the discussions addressed the cross-border movement of terrorist operatives, emphasizing the need for a unified strategy to counter evolving threats.

The bilateral talks were co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Hicham Baali, Head of the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) under Morocco’s Directorate General of National Security (DGSN). The delegates focused on the shared challenges posed by regional threats, global circulation of extremist ideologies, illicit financial flows, technological exploitation, and the mobility of terrorist networks.

In a joint statement, both delegations «unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism». The representatives also denounced the April 22, 2025, attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the November 10, 2025, incident near the Red Fort in New Delhi.

tackling terrorist financing, radicalization and tech misuse

The discussions delved into violent extremism, radicalization pathways, terrorist financing, and the exploitation of technology for illicit purposes. The joint communiqué framed these exchanges as a comprehensive review of «current and emerging challenges in counter-terrorism», requiring a detailed analysis of recruitment tactics, funding sources, communication channels, and digital infrastructure leveraged by clandestine groups.

A key focus was placed on «the use of technology for terrorist purposes», encompassing encrypted communication tools, digital propaganda, fund transfers, and mechanisms facilitating attack planning. While specific tools were not disclosed, the agenda underscored broader cooperation in intelligence sharing, prevention strategies, and judicial responses.

The delegations also examined the «intersection of transnational organized crime and terrorism», highlighting the convergence of illicit financing, logistical networks, forged documents, smuggling routes, and border-crossing mechanisms that enable terrorist groups to transport personnel, funds, and equipment across regions.

Another critical topic was the «global movement of terrorists», referring to the international travel of armed group members, returnees from conflict zones, and the risks associated with clandestine routes. Morocco and India committed to aligning their assessments to better track these movements and enhance information-sharing between their respective agencies.

bilateral cooperation and multilateral alignment

The two nations explored ways to «enhance bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation through information exchange, capacity building, and best practice sharing». This approach integrates policing expertise, threat analysis, specialized training, and comparative evaluations of each country’s methodologies.

The delegations reaffirmed their commitment to joint action within the United Nations (UN), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF). These platforms were identified as central to international coordination on financial standards, violent extremism prevention, judicial cooperation, and cross-border experience exchange.

As a follow-up, both governments agreed to hold the next joint working group session in Morocco at a mutually determined date. This third meeting aims to further assess regional and global threats while translating the New Delhi commitments into tighter bilateral mechanisms.