Quad Foreign Ministers Condemn Pahalgam Terrorist Attack, Call for Justice

Strategic Insights -

Quad foreign ministers strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack in a joint statement, calling for the perpetrators, organisers and financiers of the "reprehensible act" to be brought to justice without any delay. The statement, released after a meeting in Washington, also urged all UN States to cooperate with "all relevant authorities" in this regard. The Quad statement mirrored the UN Security Council (UNSC) statement condemning the attack, which also refrained from naming the perpetrator group, The Resistance Front (TRF). The joint condemnation by Quad foreign ministers comes as India was keen to see a more impactful response to Pakistan's role in the attack and its support for cross-border terrorism.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Quad foreign ministers condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack in a joint statement, calling for the perpetrators, organisers and financiers to be brought to justice without delay.
  • The statement urged all UN States to cooperate with "all relevant authorities" in this regard, without naming Pakistan or India.
  • The Quad statement mirrored the UN Security Council (UNSC) statement condemning the attack, which also refrained from naming the perpetrator group, The Resistance Front (TRF).
  • All Quad members, including the US, Australia, and Japan, separately condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack before the joint statement.
  • India expected Quad to understand and appreciate India's right to defend its citizens from cross-border terrorism, as stated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
  • The Quad statement condemned all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.
  • No mention was made of any Pakistan terror group or the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks in the Quad statement.

Statistics:

  • 25 Indian nationals and 1 Nepali citizen were killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
  • Several others were injured in the attack.
  • 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks were mentioned in the Quad statement from last year, but not this time.

Sources:

  • Times of India (no date provided)
  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (no date provided)
  • UN Security Council (UNSC) statement (April 2023)