The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping — India, the United States, Australia, and Japan — strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, including 25 Indians and one Nepali national.
In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Washington, the ministers called for the immediate prosecution of the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers behind the attack. They urged UN member states to extend full cooperation in accordance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions to bring the culprits to justice.
Despite the serious tone, the statement did not explicitly name Pakistan, nor did it reference the brief four-day military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani forces in May.
Quad Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to Counterterrorism
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured,” the statement read.
The ministers reaffirmed their unified stance against cross-border terrorism, calling for global cooperation to dismantle terrorist networks.
Geopolitical Concerns Beyond South Asia
Beyond terrorism, the Quad ministers voiced serious concerns over tensions in the East and South China Seas, indirectly referencing China’s aggressive maneuvers. They reiterated opposition to “any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.”
New Initiative: Quad Ports of the Future
In a major announcement, the Quad revealed its plan to launch a ‘Quad Ports of the Future’ partnership in Mumbai later this year. The initiative is expected to focus on enhancing maritime connectivity, infrastructure development, and sustainability in the Indo-Pacific region.
