In a significant joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Quad grouping — India, the United States, Japan, and Australia — have condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in the strongest terms. The coordinated statement, issued from Washington DC during the Quad foreign ministers' summit, demands that the perpetrators, financiers, and organizers behind the massacre be brought to justice without delay.

The Pahalgam Massacre

On April 22, 2025, terrorists opened fire on unarmed civilians at the Baisaran meadows, a renowned tourist location in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-six civilians — 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali tourist — were killed, and several others were seriously injured. The attack sent shockwaves across India and the global community.

Quad’s Official Statement

The joint Quad communique read:

“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…"

The statement extended condolences to the victims' families, wished the injured a swift recovery, and called for UN Member States to fully cooperate in bringing the culprits to justice, in accordance with international law and United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).

The Quad also reaffirmed its unified commitment to tackling transnational terrorism, especially when originating from cross-border sanctuaries, without naming Pakistan directly, though investigations have confirmed Pakistani links to the attack.

India’s Counterstrike: Operation Sindoor

In response to the Pahalgam atrocity, the Government of India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, 2025. This covert yet high-impact military initiative involved targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The operation’s success was publicly acknowledged, with defence officials reporting:

• Neutralisation of multiple terror camps

• Disruption of launch pads used for infiltration

• Use of precision air and drone strikes

Operation Sindoor marked a sharp escalation in India’s counterterror doctrine, shifting from deterrence to pre-emptive neutralisation. It received international support, with key Quad members expressing solidarity.

Diplomatic Engagements in Washington

Simultaneously, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is in the United States from June 30 to July 2, leading India’s diplomatic outreach on regional security, strategic tech, and trade.

Meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio

On the sidelines of the Quad summit, Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Discussions focused on:

• India-US bilateral relations

• Critical and emerging technologies

• Connectivity and mobility frameworks

• Energy partnerships

• Indo-Pacific regional cooperation

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and a free and open Indo-Pacific, while supporting India’s counterterror efforts.

Meeting with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth

In a separate high-level engagement, Jaishankar also held talks with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, focusing on:

• Strengthening India-US defence cooperation

• Enhancing interoperability between armed forces

• Collaboration on cybersecurity and space defence

• Joint development and co-production of military platforms

This aligns with the growing convergence of defence interests between the two democracies and reflects India’s pivot toward defence indigenisation and tech sharing frameworks like the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

Global Implications and Regional Security Context

The Pahalgam attack has become a flashpoint in international terrorism discourse, especially as it targeted non-combatant civilians and tourists. That the Quad countries have made such a strong and unified statement underlines:

• Rising global intolerance to state-sponsored terrorism

• Support for India’s right to self-defence

• Alignment on counterterrorism cooperation frameworks

This is particularly significant as India seeks to internationalise the issue of cross-border terrorism, bringing it consistently before global forums, including the United Nations, G20, and now the Quad.

UN Obligations and Global Pressure on Pakistan

The Quad’s joint statement urged all United Nations Member States to comply with international law and UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) — an indirect but clear signal to Pakistan.

With evidence pointing to terror cells operating from Pakistani territory, including links to proscribed outfits, the call for global cooperation could:

• Pressure Pakistan into curbing terror networks

• Enable asset freezes and sanctions under global anti-terror protocols

• Increase scrutiny on state complicity in harbouring or sponsoring terror elements

India is also expected to table evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in upcoming UN and FATF (Financial Action Task Force) sessions.

Conclusion

The Quad’s decisive condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, combined with India’s strong retaliatory military response via Operation Sindoor, and active diplomatic outreach through Jaishankar’s US visit, represent a comprehensive and calibrated strategy to combat terrorism on multiple fronts.

As the global geopolitical landscape continues to shift, the united stance of India, the US, Japan, and Australia reinforces the message that acts of terrorism will not go unanswered, and that perpetrators — including sponsors — will face consequences on military, diplomatic, and legal fronts.

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