Permanent Mission of India
New York
--

Building Operational Capacities for the Use of AI in Counter Terrorism

Statement by Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, Permanent Representative
10 December, 2025

Good morning,

It gives me immense pleasure to get this opportunity of hosting this very important event, especially with my brother, Ambassador Mohammed Issa Abushahab, the Permanent Representative of the UAE and our friends from the UN, Acting USG Zouev of the UNOCT and UNSG’s representative for UNICRI, Mr. Monier.

2. I am also delighted to welcome Head of UAE’s Cyber Security Council. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti. Along with Dr. Patil from India, they will be giving us perspectives from our respective countries which are important for all our friends to be apprised of. I also take an opportunity to welcome all experts for taking time out and making the trip here to discuss these very important issues that we have on the agenda today.

Friends,

3. As Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way we live, work and even think, its dimensions in counter terrorism and law enforcement are becoming increasingly important. As technology evolves by the day, being ahead of the curve to thwart nefarious designs and defeat those with destructive mindsets is extremely important. From our social lives to our critical infrastructure, everything has become digitalized today. Neutralizing cyber vulnerabilities and disrupting terror threats has become a prime necessity.

4. AI is a tool and it is very important that it continues adding strength to the efforts of our law enforcement and security agencies. The dangers of deepfakes, cyber security threats, data thefts and malicious applications of high risk AI get serious as technology develops. As Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has said, security cannot be an afterthought in an interconnected world. India will always remain committed to ethical use of AI and supports creation of global standards for ethical AI that respect the diversity of all countries.

Friends,

5. India and UAE have always been on the forefront in this regard. The Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes of Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council recognized that “innovations in technology may offer significant counter-terrorism opportunities”. Building on this, the UAE as the Chair of the CTC after India’s term took forward this spirit and came up with the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles to combat the terrorist use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

6. In June 2023, our two Missions had also come together to organize a joint side event on ‘Preventing and Countering the Use of New and Emerging Technologies for Terrorist Purposes: Way Forward for a Holistic Multilateral Response’ during the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week. I can confidently say that we have a history of collaboration, and will definitely be strengthening it in the future as well.

7. I thank you for your attention and wish you very fruitful deliberations.

Thank you.