Terror Funding Priority

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday called for coordinated international action to choke terror funding and protect global shipping routes from attacks and disruption. He delivered the message at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Manila, where ministers discussed political and security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.

Jaishankar said countries must deny terrorist groups access to financial resources, networks and institutional support. He also argued that the international community must impose consequences for acts of terrorism rather than limit its response to statements of condemnation.

Zero Tolerance Message

“There must be zero tolerance for terrorism,” Jaishankar said, while stressing that terrorist attacks must carry consequences. He identified terror funding as a priority area for regional and global cooperation.

India and Malaysia currently co-chair the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. Jaishankar said India was leading work on a compendium of global best practices to strengthen counter-terrorism coordination among participating countries.

Shipping Routes Must Stay Open

The minister also condemned attacks on merchant vessels and civilian infrastructure. He said international waterways must remain safe, secure and open so that trade can move without interruption.

His remarks came as conflict in West Asia, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks involving oil tankers created fresh risks for energy supplies and commercial shipping. ASEAN economies depend heavily on imported energy, making disruption along major sea routes a central concern at the Manila meetings.

India Details Maritime Role

Jaishankar highlighted India’s contribution to maritime security through the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative. He also referred to Indian deployments stretching from the North Arabian Sea to the Western Pacific.

According to the minister, these efforts help countries counter piracy, trafficking and narcotics smuggling while protecting maritime commerce. India’s emphasis on safe shipping reflects its wider objective of maintaining a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at its centre.

South China Sea Code

Jaishankar backed a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. He said the proposed framework must comply fully with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and protect the legitimate rights of all users.

The issue carried added urgency after fresh confrontations between China and the Philippines in disputed waters. The South China Sea remains a major commercial route as well as a strategic flashpoint involving overlapping territorial and maritime claims.

Wider Security Agenda

The External Affairs Minister welcomed the Manila Plan of Action and said its five pillars aligned with India’s Indo-Pacific approach. He sought closer cooperation on disaster relief, common operating procedures, field exercises and the sharing of best practices.

Jaishankar also urged countries to remain alert to efforts that weaken non-proliferation and disarmament frameworks. On technology, he supported a responsible, human-centric approach to artificial intelligence and stronger cross-border cooperation against cybercrime.

The address featured prominently in Latest News Today, India News Update and National and International News coverage because it connected terrorism, maritime trade and regional stability. It also emerged as an important Public Interest Story in Trending News India coverage.

What Comes Next

The forum’s discussions could shape cooperation on counter-terrorism, shipping security, disaster response and regional maritime rules. However, participating countries will need stronger intelligence-sharing, financial tracking and coordinated enforcement to translate political commitments into measurable action. This assessment follows from the priorities outlined by India at the meeting.