Quad Leaders Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack, Call For Perpetrators To Be Brought To Justice

News18

12 hours ago

Last Updated:
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers strongly denounced the act of violence and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Quad Summit: The foreign ministers of the QUAD group–US, India, Japan, and Australia– on Wednesday unequivocally condemned the April 22's ghastly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers strongly denounced the act of violence and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
'The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured. We call for the perpetrators, organisers, 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.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at the US Department of State on Tuesday.
At the meeting, EAM Jaishankar said that the world must display zero tolerance against terrorism and asserted that 'victims and perpetrators" must never be equated.
Without mentioning Operation Sindoor in which India struck terror bases in Pakistan and PoK, Jaishankar said India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and it will exercise that right.
The ministers discussed a wide range of regional and global issues, with a strong focus on counterterrorism cooperation.
The Quad, comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan, has emerged as a key grouping largely focusing on peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad foreign ministerial meeting is expected to prepare the ground for the grouping's annual summit in New Delhi later this year.
EAM Jaishakar said it is essential that nations of the Indo-Pacific have the freedom of choice so essential to make the right decisions on development and security. 'We are all committed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. To that end, our endeavours are devoted to promoting a rules-based international order," he added.
Jaishankar, who is visiting the US from June 30 to July 2 at Marco Rubio's invitation, also held a meeting with US Secretary of State on the sidelines of the Quad foreign ministers' meeting, during which they discussed bilateral partnership and shared perspectives on regional and global developments.
Jaishankar also met with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth during which they discussed advancing the defence partnership between the two countries.
Pahalgam Terror Attack
In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage.
India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, bombing nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in pre-dawn strikes that killed at least 100 militants. The operation sparked four days of cross-border fighting involving fighter jets, missiles and artillery.
First Published: