WASHINGTON: The Quad grouping, consisting of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that killed 26 people on April 22. The statement called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice but stopped short of naming Pakistan, which India had blamed for the attack. Pakistan denied responsibility and called for a neutral investigation.
The statement emphasized the Quad’s firm stance against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. The grouping urged all United Nations members to cooperate in swiftly delivering justice to those responsible for the attack. However, the Quad refrained from directly attributing blame to any country.
The attack, which escalated tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, led to heavy fighting in May, including bombings and artillery exchanges across the border. The U.S. played a role in mediating a ceasefire, which was first announced by President Donald Trump. However, India has contested Trump’s claims, stating that the ceasefire resulted from bilateral discussions, not external intervention.
Alongside the discussion on terrorism, the Quad also launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at securing and diversifying supply chains to reduce reliance on China, particularly in light of China’s dominance in key minerals. The initiative was presented as a step towards countering China’s growing influence in Asia, although the statement did not specifically name China.
The ministers also expressed concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, without directly naming the country. The Quad’s shared goal remains a free and open Indo-Pacific, a stance India and Japan emphasized as a response to China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
