At the first Quad foreign ministers’ meeting since India and Pakistan’s military confrontation in May following Operation Sindoor, a joint statement from the Summit Wednesday (July 2), “condemned in the strongest terms” the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people.
The foreign ministers of the countries also called for the “perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay”.
“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,” the joint statement read.
It added: “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.”
Jaishankar at Quad
Earlier, Jaishankar said that the victims and perpetrators of terrorism “must never be equated”, making India’s stance clear that it has the right to defend its citizens against any threats.
“A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience — the world must display zero tolerance,” he said on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to the Pahalgam terror attack.
“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,” he said.
#WATCH | Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting | In Washington, DC, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, “A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience. The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated. India has every right to defend its people… pic.twitter.com/JXqDSCDT5J
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2025
Twenty-six people, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, were killed on April 22 when terrorists opened fire at the Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The terrorists were found to have links with Pakistan.
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India, in its response, launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7 and successfully targeted key terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).