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The Print
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Quad foreign ministers condemn Pahalgam attack, call for perpetrators to be brought to justice
'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,' it added. '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 counterterrorism 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,' stated a joint statement issued at the foreign ministers' meeting in Washington. New Delhi: Foreign ministers of the Quad (Australia, Japan, India and the US) Tuesday condemned in the 'strongest terms' the terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam this April, which left 26 people dead, while also calling for all UN member-states to 'cooperate actively' in bringing the perpetrators to justice. India has said the attack emanated from Pakistan—a view that gains support from the call of the Quad foreign ministers to all UN members to 'cooperate actively' to bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice. The attack led to India launching Operation Sindoor in retaliation, on 7 May, in which airstrikes were conducted at nine terrorist complexes within Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Muridke, headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Both are UN-designated terrorist organisations. Pakistan subsequently launched targeted strikes at India, leading to escalation of hostilities between the two South Asian nations. On 10 May, however, a ceasefire was agreed upon. Tuesday was the first meeting of the Quad foreign ministers since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, and the second this year, following one in January. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in Washington for a three-day visit. 'A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience—the world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated. 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,' Jaishankar said in remarks to the media before the foreign ministers' meeting. He also inaugurated an exhibition titled 'The Human Cost of Terrorism' at the UN headquarters Monday, as part of New Delhi's strategy to increase global pressure on the issue of terrorism. The message to Pakistan and members of the UN to bring those behind the Pahalgam attack to justice comes at a time when Islamabad has assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July. Islamabad has announced two 'signature events' during its tenure, including one titled 'Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes', where the issue of Jammu & Kashmir is likely to be raised. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: Pahalgam attack deserves retaliation. India can borrow from US, Israel playbook
Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt says GERD negotiations failed, will defend Nile water if threatened
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday that negotiations with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have reached a dead end, warning that Cairo reserves the right to defend its national interests if its water security is endangered. 'After 12 years of negotiations, the process has not led to any tangible results,' Abdelatty said in a televised interview, accusing Addis Ababa of using talks as a tool to impose a fait accompli on downstream countries. 'Ethiopia has exploited the negotiations to consolidate its unilateral actions, rather than reach a fair, legally binding agreement.' The minister described water as Egypt's foremost national security priority, reiterating that the country will not accept any compromise on its historic share of Nile water under any circumstances. 'We must have full confidence in the Egyptian state and its institutions, which will not allow any threat to this existential issue,' he said. Abdelatty warned that Egypt's water situation is already under severe strain. While the country receives 55.5 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Nile, its total water needs exceed 90 billion cubic meters. 'Egypt's share does not cover our basic needs,' he noted, adding that per capita water availability in Egypt has fallen to 500 cubic meters per year—half the UN-designated threshold for water poverty. The GERD, which Ethiopia has been constructing since 2011 on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, has been a source of tension with downstream Egypt and Sudan. Cairo fears the dam could significantly reduce its share of the Nile's flow, on which it relies for over 90% of its fresh water. 'Egypt reserves the right to self-defense and to protect its water interests if they come under any form of threat,' Abdelatty stated firmly, in one of the clearest warnings issued by a top Egyptian official in recent months. Cairo has long insisted on a binding agreement that guarantees coordination on dam operations and safeguards its water supply, while Ethiopia has maintained that GERD is a sovereign project essential for its development and energy generation needs.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rajnath Singh talks tough, refuses to sign SCO statement skipping Pahalgam mention
New Delhi: Sending a strong message that there should be a united effort to fighting terrorism and bringing its supporters and enablers to justice, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday refused to sign a joint communique of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO ) that skipped any mention of the Pahalgam terror attack . Singh was in China for the SCO defence ministers' meeting that ended without a joint statement due to the strong stand taken by India on the issue of terrorism, which was objected to by Pakistan, also a member of the body. "We understand that member countries could not reach consensus on certain issues and hence the document could not be finalised. India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document that was not acceptable to a particular country. As such the joint statement was not adopted," sources said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 12 "Ridiculous" Benefits The VA Never Mentioned Veteran Deals Today Install Now Undo ET had earlier reported that the Pahalgam terror attack had emerged as a point of contention in the runup to the summit under the Chinese presidency, with India calling for a mention of the April 22 strike in one of the documents, following which Pakistan demanded mention of the Jaffar express incident in the same document. At the summit, Singh took a stern stand against terrorism and made the point that peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Live Events Singh said that dealing with these challenges requires decisive action and a united front of all responsible actors. "It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations," he said, addressing defence ministers, including those from China and Russia. On the Pahalgam attack, Singh said it is clear from the pattern of the strike that it was carried out by a proxy of UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He added India exercised its right to defend against terrorism by launching Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure. The minister said India's actions have demonstrated its zero tolerance for terrorism and that epicentres of terror are no longer safe as India will not hesitate to target them. He added that the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of acts of terrorism, including cross-border actors, need to be held accountable and brought to justice.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"With Operation Sindoor, India exercised its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt & deter further cross border attacks": Rajnath Singh at SCO Defence Ministers' meeting at Qingdao
Qingdao [China], June 26 (ANI): Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, on June 26, 2025, laid down the broad contours of India's transitional shift in its policy against terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting at Qingdao, China, calling upon the member countries to unite in eliminating the menace for collective safety and security, the Ministry of Defence said in an official release. The Defence Minister asserted that India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross border attacks. 'During the Pahalgam terror attack, victims were shot after they were profiled on religious identity. The Resistance Front, a proxy of UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack. The pattern of Pahalgam attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. India's zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated through its actions. It includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them,' he said, as stated in the Ministry of Defence release. Addressing the Defence Ministers, SCO Secretary General, Director Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of SCO and other distinguished delegates, Rajnath Singh stated that the biggest challenges faced by the region are related to peace, security and trust-deficit, with increasing radicalisation, extremism & terrorism being the root cause of these problems. 'Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action. It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,' said Rajnath Singh. Rajnath Singh reiterated the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, accountable and bring them to justice. He termed any and every act of terrorism as criminal & unjustifiable regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and committed by whom-so-ever. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally, he said, reaffirming India's resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Defence Minister called for proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among the youth, acknowledging the significant role of the RATS mechanism in tackling the challenge. 'The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on 'Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism' issued during India's Chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment,' he stated. Rajnath Singh underscored the importance of countering the technology used by terrorists including drones for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, pointing out that traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats in this interconnected world. He stressed that the world faces an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare. These threats, he said, do not respect national boundaries, and demand a unified response rooted in transparency, mutual trust, and collaboration. Highlighting SCO's crucial role in the current uncertain geopolitical scenario, Rajnath Singh stated that the member countries contribute around 30 per cent of the global GDP and about 40 percent of the world's population resides in them. He described the creation of a safe, secure and stable region as a collective stake, which can contribute towards progress and improvement of peoples' lives. Rajnath Singh said globalisation has been losing momentum, and the weakening of multilateral systems has made it harder to address urgent challenges, from maintaining peace and security to rebuilding economies after the pandemic. He added that competition between major powers is intensifying, with trade and technology being increasingly used as tools in geopolitical rivalries. 'India believes that reformed multilateralism can help build cooperation to prevent conflict between countries by creating mechanisms for dialogue and collaboration,' he said. The Defence Minister voiced India's commitment to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. 'Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also fosters mutual trust. However, in these efforts, it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states,' he said. Rajnath Singh added that India has been consistent and steadfast in its policy in support of peace, security & stability in Afghanistan. He enumerated the immediate priorities in Afghanistan including providing humanitarian assistance to its people and contributing to overall developmental needs. As Afghanistan's largest regional development partner, India continues to implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people, the Ministry of Defence noted. The Defence Minister also shared insights on how non-traditional security challenges like pandemics, climate change, food & water security, and associated societal disruptions recognise no boundaries and impact peoples' lives. He stressed that these challenges cannot be addressed without responsible policies and cooperation among nations. 'India's initiative on Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure aims not only at promotion of disaster resilient infrastructure, but also infrastructure risk management, standards, financing and recovery. It is also an example of how countries are coming together to create and share capabilities to deal with humanitarian assistance & disaster relief,' he added. Rajnath Singh stated that India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) are testament to create a conducive environment for growth and economic development, with security & stability being the most essential components. He underlined India's support to greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members, urging them to collectively aspire to fulfill the aspirations and expectations of the people while tackling today's challenges. 'We must all be in lockstep in our endeavour in strengthening stability and security in our neighbourhood,' he said. The Defence Minister highlighted that India seeks to build consensus on dealing with global challenges on the basis of the motto 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', which is founded on its civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). Mutual understanding and mutual benefit must be our guiding principles, he said. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajnath refuses to sign SCO joint statement as India's terror concerns ignored
New Delhi: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting could not issue a joint communique on Thursday as India's defence minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the document, citing its failure to address terrorism-related concerns, officials aware of the development said. India's defence minister Rajnath Singh had earlier said that every act of terrorism was criminal and unjustifiable, and that the bloc must unite in eliminating the menace for collective safety and security (@rajnathsingh) Singh, who attended the meeting in China's Qingdao, did not sign the joint communique as it omitted the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—in which 26 people were killed—while mentioning the Jaffar Express hijacking in Pakistan by the Balochistan Liberation Army on March 11, an official requesting anonymity said. China, the current president of the SCO, has deep military and strategic ties with Pakistan, which it strongly supported during the recent four-day clash with India under Operation Sindoor. Singh had earlier said that every act of terrorism was criminal and unjustifiable, and that the bloc must unite in eliminating the menace for collective safety and security. He said India launched Operation Sindoor in exercise of its right to defend itself against terrorism, and to pre-empt and deter further cross-border attacks. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Resistance Front—a proxy of the UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—claimed responsibility. Singh added, 'The pattern of the Pahalgam attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. India's zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated through its actions. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe, and we will not hesitate to target them.' India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, when the military hit nine terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing more than 100 terrorists. It was New Delhi's direct military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike. The operation triggered four days of strikes and counterstrikes using drones, missiles, and long-range weapons before the two sides reached an understanding to stop all military action on May 10. Singh said the biggest challenges faced by the region relate to peace, security, and trust-deficit, with increasing radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism being the root causes. 'Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action,' he added. On May 15, Singh questioned whether nuclear weapons were safe under Pakistan's control and custody and demanded that its arsenal be placed under the supervision of the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling the neighbour 'irresponsible and rogue.' 'It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture, and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,' he said in Qingdao, adding that the perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, should be held accountable and brought to justice. Singh also called for proactive steps to check the spread of radicalisation among the youth, acknowledging the significant role of RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure—a body under the SCO) in tackling the challenge. 'The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on 'Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism' issued during India's chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment,' he said.
