Quad Ministers Condemn Pahalgam Attack; Reinforce Indo-Pacific Security

In a firm statement following their second ministerial meeting of the year, the Quad foreign ministers condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.

They called on all responsible parties to be brought to justice without delay, urging cooperation from all United Nations member states under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

Representing the major democracies of the Indo-Pacific region, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, reiterated the Quad’s unequivocal condemnation of terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism.

The ministers expressed deep concern over the attack and affirmed India’s right to defend its citizens against terrorism, a stance supported by Quad partners.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar emphasised India’s commitment to exercising this right and sought understanding from fellow Quad members.

Looking ahead, the ministers expressed anticipation for the upcoming Quad summit, to be hosted later this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

US President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will attend the summit.

New Quad initiatives to address regional challenges

To enhance the Quad’s impact, the ministers announced the launch of the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this year.

They also unveiled a new strategic agenda focusing on four key areas:

• Maritime and transnational security
• Economic prosperity and security
• Critical and emerging technologies
• Humanitarian assistance and emergency response

Although the statement refrained from naming any country directly, it expressed serious concerns about actions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, citing unilateral moves, coercion, and militarisation that threaten regional peace and stability.

The Quad ministers also addressed disruptions in global supply chains, particularly critical minerals vital for economic and technological security.

They announced the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to secure and diversify these supply chains collaboratively.

To enhance disaster relief capabilities, the ministers revealed plans to conduct the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year.

This initiative aims to strengthen shared airlift capacity and collective logistics to enable rapid, coordinated responses to natural disasters, benefiting regional partners.

Other security concerns

The ministers condemned North Korea’s ongoing missile and nuclear programmes, demanding compliance with UN resolutions.

They voiced concern over North Korea’s cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft, and its use of overseas workers to fund weapons programmes.

North Korean nationals have actively participated in the Ukraine conflict, the Quad ministers highlighted.

Closer to home, the Quad expressed grave concern over the worsening crisis in Myanmar, urging the military regime and all factions to implement and expand ceasefire measures to stabilise the region.

The Quad ministers’ joint statement underscores a strengthened commitment to security, economic development, and humanitarian cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, highlighting a robust partnership aimed at tackling shared challenges.

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