MELBOURNE: The Quad countries (US, India, Japan, Australia) have in a combined statement (July 1, 2025) after the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in Washington DC condemned the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others. The statement condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews the commitment to counterterrorism cooperation.
The statement has no mention of Pakistan or those responsible for it. Pakistan is now a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) backed by China.
The paragraph in the statement on terrorism and violent extremism:
“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. 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, 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.”
In a separate development the statement issued by the Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) for India’s Ministry of Defence and posted on X (Twitter) after a telephonic talk between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth slamming Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism, calling it a safe haven for banned terrorists, later in a different version made no mention of “Pakistan-sponsored terrorism”.
The Quad statement apart for terrorism, called for a free and open Indo-Pacific, set up a Quad critical minerals Inatiative, condemened North Korea for ballastic missiles and nuclear weapons, and called for a ceasefire in Myanmar.
JOINT QUAD FOREIGN MINISTERS STATEMENT
INDIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY’S STATEMENT ON X
INDIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY’S STATEMENT (PIB)
Report filed – 13 July, 2025, Melbourne, 5.55 pm AEST.
