Quad Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Sharpens Indo-Pacific Focus in Washington Meeting

Quad Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Sharpens Indo-Pacific Focus in Washington Meeting

Last Updated Jul - 02 - 2025, 03:09 PM | Source : Fela News

Quad Foreign Ministers denounce the Pahalgam attack and express concerns over South China Sea tensions, unveiling a renewed agenda focused on maritime security,

The Foreign Ministers of the Quad countries have strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, issuing a joint statement from Washington that called for swift justice for those responsible. The statement described the April 22 attack, which killed 26 people, as "reprehensible" and urged all UN member states to cooperate with relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers to justice without delay. Notably, the wording aligned with language used in a UN Security Council resolution passed earlier this year, which referred to "relevant authorities" rather than directly naming Indian authorities.

The statement was released following a meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers—India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and U.S. Secretary of State—held ahead of the upcoming Quad Summit scheduled for November in India.

The Quad reiterated its commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and emphasized continued cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Mr. Jaishankar, speaking before the meeting, said he expected Quad partners to support India's right to defend its citizens from terrorism.

Turning to regional security, the Quad ministers expressed serious concerns about the East and South China Seas. While not directly naming China, the statement criticized coercive tactics and militarization, including interference with offshore resource development, obstruction of navigation and overflight rights, and provocative actions by military and maritime forces—such as the use of water cannons and ramming vessels—widely attributed to China’s activities in the South China Sea.

The ministers also voiced strong opposition to any unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo in the Indo-Pacific through force or coercion. They committed to a new strategic agenda centered on four priority areas: maritime security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

This meeting was the first formal Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) since President Trump began his second term. Unlike previous Quad joint statements under the Biden administration, this one notably omitted references to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict, reflecting a more focused geographic approach that prioritizes Indo-Pacific concerns.

“We are sharpening the Quad’s focus to more effectively address the most urgent challenges facing the Indo-Pacific,” the statement noted.

Additionally, a U.S. State Department fact sheet highlighted several new initiatives from the meeting. These include the launch of a Critical Minerals Partnership and an upcoming “Quad Ports of the Future Partnership” conference in Mumbai in October 2025. The fact sheet also announced the first-ever "Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission," with Quad representatives observing operations aboard a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter traveling from Palau to Guam. A second maritime legal dialogue is also scheduled for later this month to further strengthen maritime law and order in the region.

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