India, Australia Deepen Defence Ties; Condemn Terror Attack in Pahalgam During Bilateral Meeting

New Delhi: India and Australia today reiterated their shared commitment to regional peace and security during a bilateral meeting between Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles in New Delhi. The meeting underscored the growing defence cooperation between the two nations and featured a wide-ranging dialogue on regional security, counter-terrorism, defence industry collaboration, and emerging technologies.

Both leaders strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and offered their deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Rajnath Singh emphasized India’s right to self-defence in the face of cross-border terrorism and described New Delhi’s response against Pakistan as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible.” The two sides agreed to work in close coordination to combat terrorism in all its forms.

Following the meeting, the Raksha Mantri expressed gratitude to Australia via a post on social media platform X, thanking the Australian government for its unequivocal support to India’s firm response against the Pahalgam terror attack.

A key highlight of the talks was the signing of the Australia-India Joint Research Project, which both ministers welcomed as a significant step forward in deepening bilateral defence cooperation. The two sides committed to intensify collaboration in defence science and technology, and looked ahead to further deliberations during the upcoming third India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue scheduled to be held in Australia later this year. They also took stock of progress made since the previous 2+2 Dialogue held in November 2023.

The strategic discussions also included areas such as cyber and emerging technologies, maritime security, hydrography, and counter-terrorism. Both sides exchanged perspectives on regional and global security developments, with particular attention to the Indo-Pacific region.

As the two countries mark the fifth anniversary of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress and recognised defence cooperation as a central pillar of the bilateral relationship. Emphasising the growing strategic convergence, they jointly reiterated their support for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and Pacific Island region.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh extended congratulations to Richard Marles on his re-appointment as Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence following the Labour Party’s recent electoral victory. Earlier in the day, Marles paid tribute to India’s fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome with a Tri-Services Guard of Honour at the Manekshaw Centre before the start of official discussions.