New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for stronger defence cooperation between India and ASEAN countries, including joint research on maritime security, counter-drone systems, cyber defence and disaster response, stressing that regional challenges require collective action and practical solutions.

Addressing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Defence Think Tank Forum in the national capital, Singh said the forum should move beyond an exchange of views and help identify practical steps that governments and institutions could jointly implement.

"This forum grew out of my informal interaction with ASEAN defence ministers in Kuala Lumpur last year. I am pleased that this idea has now ...