No 'Pakistan' Mention in Quad's Pahalgam Condemnation; Govt Deletes 'Pak Terror' From Rajnath-Hegseth Call Readout
Pete Hegseth and Rajnath Singh. In the background: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeshi Iwaya, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and American Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Washington DC. Photos: X/@DrSJaishankar and X/@rajnathsingh.
New Delhi: The Quad group of countries on Tuesday (July 1) condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and called for the 'perpetrators, organisers and financiers' to be 'brought to justice', but stopped short of naming Pakistan or explicitly calling for cooperation with the Indian government.
This was stated in a joint communiqué issued after the foreign ministers of the Quad, India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, met in Washington for the second time this year. The language closely followed the template of the UN Security Council's press statement issued in May, which had also avoided identifying the group responsible for the attack or making any direct reference to Indian government.
The Quad joint statement said it 'unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation'.
It went on to condemn 'in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025', offered 'deepest condolences to the families of the victims', and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
'We call for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UNSCRs, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard,' the statement said.
This sentence was nearly identical to the UN Security Council statement issued on May 25.
Diplomatic sources had said at the time that Pakistan, currently a non-permanent member of the Council and backed by China, had influenced the final language of the UNSC statement, which was originally drafted by the United States.
In a key shift from the UNSC's 2019 statement after the Pulwama attack, the press statement on the Pahalgam terror attack omitted any reference to the Indian government, but only 'relevant authorities' – an approach now mirrored by the Quad. The 2019 statement also mentioned the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed by name as being behind the Pulwama attack.
India has claimed that an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba was behind the Pahalgam attack.
Two weeks after the incident, India launched drone and missile strikes on four sites inside Pakistan, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure. Pakistan retaliated, leading to four days of military exchanges that ended after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire.
While Trump claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire, India later stated there had been no formal agreement, only a temporary cessation of hostilities following a phone call between the Indian and Pakistani military leaderships. Meanwhile, Pakistan's standing in Washington appeared to improve, with army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir receiving an unprecedented lunch invitation from President Trump.
The Narendra Modi government has since faced domestic criticism from opposition parties for failing to garner international support to name or isolate Pakistan. There was also concern in New Delhi that President Trump's public framing of the situation had 're-hyphenated' India and Pakistan. In the days following the clashes, India dispatched multiple all-party delegations of MPs to foreign capitals to make the case for Pakistan's alleged terror links.
'India has every right...': Jaishankar
Speaking just ahead of Tuesday's Quad meeting, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said India expected its partners to recognise its right to defend itself against terrorism.
'A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience,' he said, referring to the Pahalgam attack. 'The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated.'
'India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that,' he added.
No 'Pakistan-sponsored terrorism'
In a separate development, India's own messaging on Pakistan had also been muddled.
The Ministry of Defence removed all references to 'Pakistan-sponsored terrorism' from its official readout on defence minister Rajnath Singh's call with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Tuesday. The original version, which was also carried by state media Doordarshan, affirmed India's right to launch strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under 'Operation Sindoor' and declared, 'Pakistan's long track record of cross-border terrorism is well known globally. It has become a safe haven for internationally banned terrorists who enjoy immunity there.'
However, after minutes of its release, the ministry issued a revised version that dropped all references to "Pakistan-sponsored terrorism."
The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
18 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
India, US to sign new 10-year defence framework later this year
India and the United States agreed to sign a new 10-year defence partnership framework when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Pete Hegseth will meet later this year, the Pentagon on Wednesday. The decision was finalised during a telephonic conversation between the two on Tuesday, with both sides reviewing the 'considerable progress' made in bilateral defence cooperation since the joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in February, the statement added. 'Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia,' the statement added. While the US Department of Defense did not elaborate on specific details, the statement added that the two sides 'discussed pending major US defence sales to India'. India's defence ministry said that during the call, Singh and Hegseth discussed a broad range of defence cooperation issues, including training, military exchanges and expanding defence industry collaboration. Singh appreciated the 'unwavering support extended by US to India for its fight against terrorism', the defence ministry said. The statement came on a day when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said ahead of Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washington DC that the world must 'display zero tolerance' on terrorism. 'Victims and perpetrators must never be equated,' Jaishankar had said. 'And India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that.'
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘So deranged': 'Cannibal started to eat himself' on deportation flight, says DHS chief Kristi Noem; defends Alligator Alcatraz
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaks during a roundtable at "Alligator Alcatraz (AP photo) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem , in a startling disclosure on Tuesday, narrated an unsettling incident involving federal agents apprehending an alleged cannibal, unauthorised immigrant, who reportedly began consuming his own arms during a deportation flight. The account was shared during Noem's visit to the "Alligator Alcatraz" deportation facility in the South Florida Everglades, where she accompanied President Trump. "The other day I was talking to some [US] Marshals that had been partnering with ICE," and continued with the account of the detained individual who allegedly attempted self-consumption while aboard the aircraft, necessitating medical intervention. "These are the kind of deranged individuals that are on our streets in America that we're trying to target and get out of our country because they are so deranged, they don't belong here,' she said. 'Cannibal' Migrant On Deportation Flight "Literally Ate His Own Arms" | N18G The former South Dakota governor utilised this narrative to demonstrate that federal authorities are focusing their efforts on apprehending the most dangerous unauthorised immigrants, rather than law-abiding community members, as suggested by critics of the administration. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo She emphasised that such disturbed individuals present on American streets are the primary targets for removal from the country due to their dangerous nature. The Department of Homeland Security was unable to promptly verify any cases matching Noem's description, according to NY Post. The detention centre, situated approximately 40 miles west of Miami amid swampland inhabited by alligators and pythons, was constructed by Florida in eight days after the Trump administration accepted the state's proposal to utilise the 39-square-mile territory for mass deportation operations. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis informed journalists that he anticipated the initial detainees would arrive at the facility Wednesday. The administration has additionally encouraged unauthorised residents to voluntarily depart, offering the possibility of future legal entry. Noem cautioned that those who refuse to self-deport might face detention at the facility, deportation, and permanent exclusion from re-entry. DeSantis posed the rhetorical question, "Why would you want to come through Alligator Alcatraz if you can just go home on your own?" suggesting many would opt for voluntary departure.
India Today
19 minutes ago
- India Today
Dalai Lama's succession decision challenges China, raises stakes for India
In a pivotal move ahead of his 90th birthday, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has officially announced that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his personal trust, will solely oversee the recognition and selection of his reincarnation. This announcement, while reaffirming the traditional Tibetan Buddhist process of identifying the next Dalai Lama, directly challenges China's long-standing claim that the succession must be approved by the Chinese government. The decision carries profound geopolitical implications, especially for India, where the Dalai Lama has lived in exile since 1959, and which hosts the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala. In an exclusive interview with India Today Global's Geeta Mohan, Dr. Jabin Jacob, an expert on China at Shiv Nadar University, offered a detailed perspective on the evolving dynamics. Dr. Jacob highlighted that this announcement is in line with what the Dalai Lama had long promised—making a clear decision about his succession upon turning 90. While the move signals a return to tradition, it also represents a strategic pivot. 'He has moved away from earlier suggestions such as naming his successor in his lifetime or being reincarnated outside of Tibet. Instead, he has opted for the conventional path, involving consultations with high lamas, the Tibetan Parliament in exile, and even indirect requests from inside Tibet,' Jacob said. However, Dr. Jacob cautioned that this traditional approach does not necessarily reduce Beijing's influence. 'China continues to assert its authority over Tibetan religious matters, including succession. By reverting to a traditional selection process, the door is not shut on Chinese interference. China could still attempt to control or recognise a parallel Dalai Lama,' he warned. The issue also brings into sharp focus India's delicate balancing act. For decades, India has hosted the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan diaspora, offering sanctuary while attempting to avoid antagonising China. Asked whether India has strategically used the Dalai Lama issue in its foreign policy toolkit, Dr. Jacob rejected the simplistic notion of a 'Tibet card.' 'Our decisions have largely been guided by national interest and a degree of morality. India's actions—hosting the Dalai Lama and supporting the Tibetan community—have not been transactional. To exploit the Tibetan cause would make us no different from the Chinese,' he said. However, he added that the Dalai Lama's succession will inevitably have direct implications for India, and Delhi must be prepared to assert its stake in the process. Geeta Mohan also recalled the inconsistency in India's stance over the years—how during periods of engagement with China, New Delhi had issued advisories discouraging official participation in the Dalai Lama's birthday celebrations. In contrast, during times of tension, such as after the Galwan clash, senior Indian officials have prominently attended Tibetan events. Dr. Jacob criticised this unpredictability. 'If the Indian government believes ambiguity brings strategic advantage, it must articulate what those advantages are. Otherwise, this inconsistency only makes us vulnerable to pressure, diminishes credibility, and creates confusion both domestically and internationally,' he asserted. He added that a clear, principled stand would also signal to the Tibetan community that their interests remain a priority for India. Addressing the controversial 2003 decision by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to recognise the Tibet Autonomous Region as part of China, Dr. Jacob clarified that this was not a blanket historical endorsement. 'India acknowledged the TAR as a political reality, not as a historical validation of China's claims. In return, China recognised Sikkim as Indian territory. That was the quid pro quo,' he explained. While some question why Kashmir was not included in the bargain, Dr. Jacob pointed out that China has consistently maintained a technically neutral position on the issue. Though it supports Pakistan practically, its official stance—based on a 1963 agreement with Pakistan—leaves room for future negotiation depending on the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Ultimately, the Dalai Lama's succession will not just be a religious matter—it's a geopolitical flashpoint. With China, India, and the Tibetan people all having a stake in the outcome, the coming years will test New Delhi's diplomatic clarity, resolve, and moral compass.- EndsTune In advertisement
