Quad Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Highlights Concerns Over China's Indo-Pacific Actions
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as the Quad, which includes India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, issued a strong condemnation of the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and expressed significant concerns over China's assertive activities in the Indo-Pacific region during a meeting of Foreign Ministers in Washington.
In a joint declaration, the Quad labeled the attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 fatalities, as a "reprehensible act of terrorism." The group demanded swift justice for those responsible, including the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers. "The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism," stated the communiqué.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the summit, stressed India's right to self-defense and urged Quad members to recognize the strategic necessities influencing its counterterrorism policies.
The statement further expressed mounting concern over China's aggressive military actions in the South and East China Seas. The Quad highlighted "dangerous and provocative actions," such as the use of water cannons and ramming tactics by Chinese maritime forces, which obstruct navigation rights and threaten regional peace and stability. Japan and Australia have reportedly experienced increased military pressure from Beijing, with live-fire naval exercises near Australian waters earlier this year causing alarm among regional security observers.
The Quad also addressed broader regional issues, including the civil unrest in Myanmar and the security threats from North Korea. To enhance coordination, the group announced a renewed focus on four critical areas: maritime and transnational security, critical and emerging technologies, economic prosperity, and humanitarian assistance.
Among the initiatives introduced was the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at securing vital resource supply chains. Additionally, a new joint training exercise designed to enhance shared airlift and logistics capacity is scheduled for later this year. Plans were also revealed for the "Quad Ports of the Future Partnership," set to launch in Mumbai in the coming months.
With India preparing to host the Quad Leaders Summit later this year, there is growing momentum towards deeper strategic collaboration and a unified response to regional threats.
