India, New Zealand Form Joint Working Group To Combat Terrorism; PM Modi Calls For Shoulder-To-Shoulder Cooperation

Auckland, July 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that India and New Zealand have established a dedicated Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, asserting that both countries will work “shoulder to shoulder” to tackle the global challenge of terrorism. Addressing a gala lunch hosted by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland, PM Modi said the two nations are committed to strengthening security cooperation while working towards peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. “To move forward shoulder to shoulder on the issue of terrorism, we have formed a Joint Working Group today. Cooperation between India and New Zealand is extremely important for peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific,” Modi said. The India-New Zealand Joint Statement reaffirmed their shared vision of a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific, with respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and a rules-based international order. Both leaders reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, while condemning the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, and the terror incident near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, 2025. The newly established Joint Working Group will facilitate information and knowledge sharing between the two countries and strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. The leaders also called for dismantling terror networks, disrupting terror financing and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice. The two sides further stressed the importance of reforms in global institutions, including the United Nations, and New Zealand reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. PM Modi and PM Luxon also reaffirmed cooperation in multilateral platforms such as the UN and Financial Action Task Force (FATF), while highlighting the need for collective action against UN-designated terrorist organisations and their affiliates. The visit marks the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years, during which both countries elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a Roadmap to 2030 covering trade, defence, technology, security and regional cooperation.