India Prime Minister Modi Remembers 9/11 Victims, Reaffirms India’s Fight Against Terrorism.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, marking the 25th anniversary of one of the most devastating attacks in modern history.
In a message on 11 September 2026, Modi remembered those who lost their lives and expressed solidarity with families whose lives were permanently changed by the attacks. He also used the anniversary to underline India’s longstanding opposition to terrorism, particularly what he described as the threat posed by cross-border terrorism.
The Prime Minister said that terrorism has claimed countless lives around the world and stressed that, although the nature of the threat continues to change, India’s opposition to terrorism remains firm.
The message was accompanied by glimpses from Modi’s visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in 2014, offering a reminder of his earlier engagement with the site and the significance of the attacks in the global debate on terrorism.
Remembering the victims of 9/11
The 11 September 2001 attacks remain a defining moment in the history of international terrorism. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked commercial aircraft were used in coordinated attacks in the United States.
The attacks transformed international security policies and had consequences that extended far beyond America. Governments around the world strengthened measures to prevent terrorist attacks, improve intelligence-sharing and disrupt networks involved in terrorism.
Twenty-five years later, the anniversary continues to be marked primarily as a day of remembrance for those who died and those whose lives were altered by the attacks.
Modi’s message placed the victims and their families at the centre of his remarks. He said the families had experienced changes that would last a lifetime, while expressing solidarity with them on the anniversary.
His comments also connected the memory of 9/11 with the wider international struggle against terrorism.
India’s experience with cross-border terrorism
A central part of the Prime Minister’s message was India’s own experience with terrorism.
Modi described India as a victim of cross-border terrorism and said the country had been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism for several decades. The reference reflects a long-running concern in Indian security and foreign policy over militant violence linked to groups operating across national borders.
India has repeatedly raised terrorism as a major issue in its international diplomatic engagements, calling for stronger cooperation between countries and greater action against terrorist organisations and their networks.
By referring to India’s experience on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Modi placed the country’s counter-terrorism position within the broader global effort to address political violence and extremist threats.
The message also avoided limiting the issue to any single organisation or region. Instead, Modi reiterated India’s opposition to terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations”, presenting the fight against terrorism as a broad and continuing international challenge.
Why the Prime Minister says the threat is evolving
One of the key points in Modi’s statement was that terrorism is not a static threat.
Over the past 25 years, the nature of terrorist activity has changed significantly. Security agencies have had to respond not only to conventional attacks and organised militant networks but also to evolving methods of recruitment, financing, communication and propaganda.
The spread of digital technology has created new opportunities for terrorist and extremist networks to communicate and influence individuals across borders. At the same time, international security agencies have developed new tools to monitor threats, share intelligence and prevent attacks.
For governments, this means counter-terrorism cannot rely solely on measures developed in response to earlier attacks. It requires continuing international cooperation and the ability to respond to new methods and emerging risks.
Modi’s reference to an evolving threat therefore comes against a much wider background of changes in global security since 2001.
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A call for continued international cooperation
The Prime Minister said India stands in solidarity with all efforts to combat terrorism.
That message reflects the importance India places on international cooperation in dealing with terrorism. Terrorist networks can operate across borders, making cooperation between governments, intelligence agencies and international institutions an important part of prevention and enforcement efforts.
The 9/11 anniversary has traditionally provided an opportunity for governments to reflect on the need for such cooperation. The attacks demonstrated how an event planned by a terrorist organisation in one part of the world could have consequences on a global scale.
For India, the anniversary also provides an opportunity to highlight its own experience of terrorism and its call for a united international response.
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Modi’s 2014 visit revisited
Alongside his statement, Modi shared glimpses from his visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in 2014.
The museum and memorial at the World Trade Centre site in New York preserve the history of the attacks and honour those who were killed. Modi’s visit took place years after the attacks but reflected the continuing importance of the site as a place of remembrance.
By sharing images from that visit on the 25th anniversary, the Prime Minister linked his present-day message with an earlier visit to a site that has become one of the most prominent symbols of the human cost of terrorism.
The message after 25 years
Modi’s remarks ultimately combined remembrance with a renewed political message.
The 25th anniversary of 9/11 is an occasion to remember the victims and recognise the lasting impact on their families. For India, it is also an opportunity to reaffirm its own experience with terrorism and its position that the threat requires sustained international attention.
The Prime Minister’s message made clear that India sees terrorism as an evolving global challenge rather than a problem confined to one country or one period.
Twenty-five years after the attacks that reshaped the international security landscape, Modi’s central message was that the fight against terrorism must continue. While the methods and nature of the threat may change, he said, India’s opposition to terrorism remains unwavering.
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