Quad Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Flags China’s Military Aggression in Indo-Pacific

In a strong show of unity, the Quad nations—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—jointly condemned the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and raised alarm over China’s increasingly aggressive military behavior in the Indo-Pacific. The statement came during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Washington, D.C.

In a joint declaration, the four countries “unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism,” and reiterated their commitment to deepening counterterrorism cooperation. Specifically, they condemned the Pahalgam attack in April that killed 26 people.

“We call for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without delay,” the statement read, urging all UN Member States to fully cooperate under international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that India retains the right to defend itself against terrorism and expressed hope that Quad partners would support its strategic rationale.

The Quad also expressed grave concern over China’s military and maritime assertiveness in the South and East China Seas. The joint statement highlighted “dangerous and provocative actions” by Chinese military and paramilitary forces, such as the use of water cannons, ramming maneuvers, and interference with offshore resource activities. Japan and Australia, in particular, have seen increasing Chinese pressure, including live-fire drills near Australian waters earlier this year.

“These actions threaten peace and stability in the region,” the statement noted, also flagging concerns over North Korea’s weapons program and the worsening civil conflict in Myanmar.

To strengthen strategic coordination, the Quad announced a restructured focus on four priority areas: maritime and transnational security, critical and emerging technologies, economic resilience, and humanitarian assistance.

Among the key new initiatives:

• Quad Critical Minerals Initiative: Launched to secure resilient and sustainable mineral supply chains.

• Joint Training Exercise: Set for later this year, aimed at enhancing shared airlift and logistics capabilities.

• Ports of the Future Partnership: To be launched in Mumbai, aimed at modernizing port infrastructure and boosting regional connectivity.

The meeting laid the groundwork for the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India is set to host later this year.