BIMSTEC Adopts Delhi Declaration to Counter Terrorism

India hosted the inaugural meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Home Ministers in New Delhi on October 13, 2026. The regional bloc officially adopted the Delhi Declaration, a framework designed to combat radicalisation, violent extremism, and the illicit use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. Member states including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand committed to curbing terror financing by adhering to international anti-money laundering standards and UN Security Council sanctions, specifically referencing the 1267 Sanctions Committee.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined five priority areas for regional cooperation: drug control, legal cooperation, repatriation of fugitive criminals, cyber-security, and institutional capacity building. Addressing the assembly, Mr. Shah noted that criminal networks are increasingly utilizing encrypted communication, social media, drones, cryptocurrency, and the dark web to facilitate illegal operations. He emphasized that drug trafficking acts as a financial engine for organized crime, explicitly criticizing the "Golden Triangle" region and labeling narcotics trade as "death trafficking."

Bangladesh, currently the chair of the grouping, was represented by Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, a Senior Secretary in its Home Ministry, rather than Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The meeting, which was hosted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, saw an endorsement of maritime law enforcement principles and a collective call for the establishment of a BIMSTEC national security database. Mr. Shah stated that regional lacunae in law enforcement are currently being exploited by criminal entities and urged member states to facilitate the extradition of criminals to prevent them from finding shelter across borders.

What to watch: The implementation of the proposed national security database and its effectiveness in real-time intelligence sharing.

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