At the Quad ministerial meeting on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar firmly asserted India’s right to self-defence against terrorism. Addressing the press with his Quad counterparts—US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya—Jaishankar said, “India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right.”
He urged the Quad to recognise and support India’s stance: “We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that.” His remarks come in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre by Pakistan-backed terrorists and India’s strong military response through Operation Sindoor.
Jaishankar called for “zero tolerance” towards terrorism, stressing that “victims and perpetrators must never be equated.” Counter-terrorism remains a key pillar of the Quad’s strategic agenda.
Summit preparation and Indo-Pacific priorities
The foreign ministers’ meeting marks a crucial step toward the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host later this year. He will be joined by US President Donald Trump, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba.
Jaishankar stated that India has proposals ready to ensure a productive summit. “I’m sure so do our partners, and we will discuss and agree on how to go about it.” He emphasised the Quad’s commitment to a rules-based international order, underlining that “freedom of choice is essential for Indo-Pacific nations.”
Progress on maritime, tech and education fronts
Jaishankar also highlighted tangible progress in Quad initiatives across maritime security, technology, education, and political coordination. He noted improvements in internal coordination through streamlined working groups, making the Quad “more cohesive, nimble and focused.”
He concluded by reaffirming India’s commitment to deeper cooperation: “I value our consultations on different dimensions of the Indo-Pacific.” The Quad ministerial meeting reflects growing alignment among the four nations amid evolving regional and global challenges.
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