India, Japan Reaffirm Zero Tolerance on Terror

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Takehiro Funakoshi, in Tokyo on Thursday as part of their annual bilateral dialogue. During the meeting, Misri reaffirmed India’s firm stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism and emphasized the importance of deepening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

According to a post by the Indian Embassy in Japan, the two sides discussed key areas of collaboration under the strategic partnership, with a strong emphasis on security and regional cooperation. The dialogue also highlighted efforts to strengthen economic ties and promote people-to-people exchanges.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the discussion encompassed a wide range of topics, including recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region, furthering bilateral cooperation in security, economy, and cultural engagement.

In addition, Misri held a meeting with Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Hiroyuki Namazu, focusing on strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and other mutual interests.

"India and Japan share a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ rooted in common values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Defence cooperation has become a key pillar of this partnership, playing a crucial role in maintaining a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific," stated the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier in the day, an all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, arrived in Tokyo, launching India’s diplomatic initiative under 'Operation Sindoor.'

The delegation engaged with senior Japanese officials, reiterating India's strong opposition to terrorism and promoting international cooperation through the Operation Sindoor outreach.

During the meetings, Japanese leaders expressed solidarity with India’s anti-terror stance. Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya stressed that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and affirmed Japan’s commitment to working closely with India and the global community to counter the threat.

Minister Iwaya also welcomed the recent agreement between India and Pakistan to suspend military operations, adding that he had held discussions with both External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, hoping for a peaceful resolution that ensures stability in South Asia.