India and Uzbekistan Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

India and Uzbekistan held the 10th meeting of their Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism in New Delhi on 22 October 2026. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation through information sharing, capacity building and exchanges of best practices.

Bilateral Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Pirimkulov Gulomjon Shodmonkulovich, a senior official of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions covered global and regional terrorist threats, including extremism, radicalisation, terrorism financing and the misuse of technology for terrorist purposes. The sides also discussed links between transnational organised crime and terrorism. The 9th meeting of the Joint Working Group took place in Tashkent on 30 September 2025. At that meeting, India and Uzbekistan condemned the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack targeting civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan on a mutually convenient date.

Multilateral Counter-Terrorism Frameworks

India and Uzbekistan reaffirmed cooperation in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS), and the Eurasian Group on combating money laundering and terrorism financing. SCO-RATS is a permanent body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation that coordinates cooperation among member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism. The Eurasian Group is a regional intergovernmental body that addresses money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Strategic Partnership and Defence Links

In August 2026, India and Uzbekistan elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership covering defence, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity. The 7th edition of their joint military exercise, DUSTLIK 2026, was held from 12 to 25 April at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area in Uzbekistan.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001, and India became a full member in 2017.
• SCO-RATS is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• The Eurasian Group was established in 2004 and is a Financial Action Task Force-style regional body.
• DUSTLIK is a joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan.

The 10th Joint Working Group meeting took place in New Delhi on 22 October 2026. Its next meeting is scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan.</final