India to Host Historic BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi

India is gearing up to host the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, a crucial step towards enhancing regional security cooperation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lead discussions aimed at addressing shared challenges such as terrorism, organized crime, and cyber threats. This historic gathering will provide a platform for member nations to collaborate on security issues that transcend borders, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts in combating various threats. The meeting follows previous discussions among national security chiefs and aims to strengthen ties among the seven member countries. Stay tuned for more insights on this significant event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 13, 2026, 12:08 IST

Significant Regional Security Meeting

A file image of Union Home Minister Amit Shah (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, Oct 13: India is preparing to host the inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, a pivotal move aimed at enhancing regional collaboration on security matters.

The meeting will be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

HM Shah characterized this event as a landmark moment, emphasizing that it reflects "our collective determination to tackle terrorism, transnational organized crime, narcotics, radicalization, trafficking, illicit financial flows, and cyber threats".

He stated, "Through effective coordination, we are dedicated to creating a safer, more robust, and secure BIMSTEC region."

Officials from the member nations are anticipated to attend the meeting.

This gathering aims to serve as a forum for BIMSTEC countries to address shared security challenges and seek methods to improve collaboration in managing threats that transcend national borders.

It also underscores the necessity of unified regional initiatives to combat terrorism, organized crime syndicates, drug-related issues, human trafficking, and cybercrime.

BIMSTEC, which stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional entity consisting of seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

As per the official BIMSTEC website, the organization aims to bolster cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture and food security, the blue economy, connectivity, culture, disaster management, energy, environmental issues, fiscal and monetary policies, health, human resource development, fisheries and livestock, and enhancing people-to-people relations.

Earlier in July, the 5th Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs took place in New Delhi, where National Security Advisers and delegation heads discussed strategies to combat terrorism and organized crime, secure cyber, maritime, and energy domains, improve connectivity, facilitate effective disaster management, and address emerging security threats.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of the BIMSTEC Guidelines for the Maritime Component of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, which will aid member states in conducting relief operations swiftly within the region.

Additionally, a set of Guiding Principles on the Conduct of Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies during Interactions at Sea was endorsed, aimed at enhancing predictability and safety during maritime operations among member nations.