Second ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (Plus) issued the Joint Declaration

The second ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting) Plus meeting was held in Brunei on 29 August 2013. The Ministers issued a joint Declaration at the end of the meeting in which it has been decided that the ADMM Plus countries will establish practical measures that reduce vulnerability to miscalculation and avoid misunderstanding and undesirable incidents at sea.

Among other decisions taken at the meeting of the ADMM Plus, was the establishment of an additional (sixth) Expert Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action which will be co-chaired by India with Vietnam. ADMM Plus was established in 2010. It was built with the objective of developing synergy and cooperative frameworks to enable nations to address the complex security challenges. This forum is convened every two years.

The Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh represented India at the meeting.

India’s stance at ADMM Plus meeting

India stated that terrorism represents a major threat to the peace, stability and security of the entire region. India urged that the global regime against terrorism needs to be strengthened through the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN. India stressed on to combine efforts to ensure that terrorist sanctuaries, safe havens and the networks for financing to terrorist groups are dismantled.

India supported that the reconciliation process must be Afghan- led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, within the framework of the Afghan constitution and internationally accepted redlines.The recent attack against our Consulate in Jalalabad will not deter us in our efforts to assist Afghanistan in the reconstruction and development efforts.

India supported calls for stopping of violence and commencement of an inclusive national dialogue to resolve the conflict through peaceful political means in Syria. India expressed deep concern about the nuclear test conducted by North Korea in February 2013. India also stressed on the need to discuss maritime security in this region.