He noted that India advocates for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, regularly deploys field hospitals, provides search and rescue teams, and sends relief materials and medical supplies.
Image: X
Calling the attacks on merchant shipping and civilian infrastructure as “unacceptable,” External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said that commerce through international waterways needs to remain safe and free from disruptions.
While addressing the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila, Jaishankar highlighted the forum’s importance for discussing political and security issues in the Indo-Pacific amid global uncertainties, IANS reported.
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“Welcomed the Manila Plan of Action and highlighted that its five pillars are aligned with India’s own approach to the Indo-Pacific. India promotes a collaborative approach to disaster relief, sharing best practices, developing common SOPs and undertaking real-time & table top exercises,” the Union Minister wrote on X, following the ARF Ministerial Meeting.
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“Highlighted that attacks on maritime shipping and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable, and commerce through international waterways should remain safe and unimpeded,” he added.
Spoke at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting today in Manila.
➡️ Recognised the importance of ARF for discussing political & security issues in the Indo-Pacific, especially in these complex times.
➡️ Welcomed the Manila Plan of Action and highlighted that… pic.twitter.com/5QoTF7rP9a
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 23, 2026
He noted that India advocates for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, regularly deploys field hospitals, provides search and rescue teams, and sends relief materials and medical supplies.
“India has undertaken rehabilitation recently ranging from the cyclone in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Jamaica to earthquakes in Myanmar, Venezuela and Afghanistan,” he wrote.
The External Affairs Minister further emphasised the need for zero tolerance against terrorism and said there should be no doubt that terrorist acts would have consequences.
Further, he called for prioritising efforts to choke financing resources that fuel it, adding that India co-chairs the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM) Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia and is taking the lead in producing a compendium of best practices.
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