Twenty-five years after those catastrophic attacks on September 11, 2001, the world is remembering the thousands of innocent people who lost their lives and considering the lasting impact of terrorism on global security. The 25th anniversary of 9/11 will be commemorated in the United States, and country-for-country and region-by-region.
The attacks of September 11, 2001 killed almost 3,000 people after hijacked commercial aircraft were used in attacks against the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon near Washington, DC and another aircraft crashed in Pennsylvania. They have had profound implications for international security policy across the board and also on international politics.
On the 25th anniversary, India’s message again underlines the nation’s position against terrorism in all its forms. India has frequently pointed out its experience with cross-border terrorism and the need for greater international cooperation for terrorists and their sponsors.
The remembrance also recalls India’s diplomatic position that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances. India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations has previously stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned and that the international response needs to be coordinated and effective.
Remembering the Victims of 9/11
The 9/11 anniversary is first and foremost a day of remembrance. Families, survivors, first responders and communities still bear the consequences of the attacks a quarter-century later.
At the National September 11 Memorial in New York, family members of victims are in charge of the annual ceremony and reading out names of those killed in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It is the 25th anniversary ceremony, in which the attack’s anniversary will be marked with moments of silence at the scenes of the first attacks and in which those who would later die of 9/11-related illnesses and injuries will be remembered.
With the memorial and more than one generation of people as yet in the pipeline in the country, a sense of loss is linked with a global message about terrorism. Organizations like the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which are designed to bring back the memory of that time—for millions of people who were not born or were too young to remember the attacks, are key institutions for memory preservation.
The museum has also launched programmes to teach younger generations about the events of September 11 and its consequences. It says about 100 million Americans are too young to have a lived memory of the attacks in 2026.
India's Experience With Terrorism
For India, the 25th anniversary of 9/11 also provides an opportunity to underline its own decades-long experience with terrorism.
India has always referred to itself as a victim of cross-border terrorism and has called for international action against terrorist groups, their networks and those who provide them support. The country has maintained that terrorism needs to be fought globally at the same time as it needs to be fought in the country’s geography and politics.
Over the years India has been raising the issue at international forums, pointing out that terrorist organisations can use borders, technology, financial systems and online platforms to expand their reach. As terrorist threats evolve countries have increasingly focused on intelligence-sharing, counter-terror financing, border security and international cooperation.
The Changing Nature of the Terror Threat
The terrorism threat today is different in many ways from the environment that existed in 2001. Terrorist organisations and radical networks have adapted more to technological changes, which include online platforms for propaganda, recruitment and communication.
Recent analysis of the 25th anniversary has also shown that terrorist networks are not only adapting their methods and organization but also are also changing their structures in the global counterterrorism landscape.
This evolving threat has only reinforced the argument that counterterrorism cannot be regarded as a one-off effort. Governments and international institutions need to be on the lookout for emerging methods of recruitment, financing and coordination.
A Message of Solidarity
The 25th anniversary is so much about remembering what happened on September 11, 2001, and how families who were forever altered and how terrorism has forever affected the world.
The solidarity is not limited to the borders between countries. Terrorist violence has struck people from different countries, communities and backgrounds in many countries; so international cooperation is vital to combat it.
A new show, In Their Honor: 25 Years of 9/11-Inspired Service, will also be exhibited at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on this anniversary, to explain how grief was turned into service and community action.
25 years on from the horrific 9/11 attacks, we remember and honour the victims and stand in solidarity with the families whose lives were forever changed.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2026
Terrorism has claimed countless lives around the world. As a victim of cross-border terrorism, India has been at the… pic.twitter.com/hGhbMwFyke
On 25 years since 9/11, the central message is one of remembrance and resolve. The victims must not be forgotten, and as long as families live with the effects, there is a need for solidarity to continue.
For India, this anniversary also brings back to the point that the world is in crisis and the need for a global response to terrorism. The nature of the threat is certain to change and so is the country’s stance on terrorism in all its forms, of course. The 25th anniversary of 9/11 is an eye-opener. To prevent terrorism we need to remain vigilant, involved and not forget that terrorists are trying to kill innocent people.
