Jaishankar calls for choking terror financing, safe international shipping lanes at ASEAN meet in Manila

New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday called for choking the financial networks that sustain terrorism and ensuring that international shipping lanes remain safe and open while addressing the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila.

"There must be zero tolerance for terrorism. Nor should there be any doubt that acts of terrorism will have consequences. We should prioritise choking the financial resources that fuel it," Jaishankar said.

Also read: Acts of terror will have consequences: S Jaishankar at ASEAN Regional Forum


He noted that India, along with Malaysia, co-chairs the Experts' Working Group on counter-terrorism under the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework and is leading efforts to prepare a compendium of best practices for tackling terrorism.

Jaishankar's remarks came a day after a head constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, deployed for Amarnath Yatra security, was killed in a terrorist attack in Anantnag.

Amid attacks on commercial vessels in conflict zones that have killed Indian seafarers, Jaishankar said attacks on maritime shipping and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable, adding that commerce through international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded.

He also referred to India's growing role in safeguarding sea lanes across the Indo-Pacific and said the Information Fusion Centre in India, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative, and the deployment of Indian naval assets from the North Arabian Sea to the Western Pacific are contributing to efforts against piracy, trafficking and narcotics trade while protecting maritime commerce.

Also read: There must be zero tolerance for terrorism; terror acts will have consequences: EAM reiterates India's stance at 33rd ARF meet

Jaishankar welcomed the Manila Plan of Action, saying its five pillars align with India's Indo-Pacific vision. The external affairs minister highlighted India's contributions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, including deployment of field hospitals, search-and-rescue teams, and relief supplies for countries affected by natural disasters, ranging from Sri Lanka and the Philippines to Myanmar and Afghanistan.

Jaishankar expressed India's support for a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea that is fully compliant with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).