'Perpetrators should be brought to justice': Quad leaders condemn Pahalgam terror attack

(From left) Japan's Iwaya Takeshi, India's S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Australia's Penny Wong during the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washing ton on July 1

The Quad, in a joint statement on Monday (local time), condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam in April in the “strongest possible terms” and expressed deep condolences for the 26 victims.

However, the grouping stopped short of naming Pakistan.

“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.

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The Quad, a grouping that includes the US, Japan, Australia and India, said it unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews commitment to counterterrorism cooperation.

The Quad’s foreign ministers, including India’s S Jaishankar, US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Japanese foreign minister Iwaya Takeshi and Australian counterpart Penny Wong met in Washington on July 1.

Just finished a very productive meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington DC.

Discussed how to make Quad more focused and impactful on contemporary opportunities and challenges.

Today’s gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo - Pacific and keep it free… pic.twitter.com/M9Vg5NaxMR

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— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 1, 2025

“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,” the statement added.

During the foreign ministers’ meeting, the officials pledged their commitment to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific to support peace and security in the region.

In addition, the ministers announced the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, which the group said is “an ambitious expansion of partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains”, US spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

The April 22 attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry as New Delhi blamed it on Islamabad.

On May 7, Indian jets bombed terror infrastructure across the border, setting off an exchange of attacks between the two countries by fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery that killed dozens until a ceasefire on May 10.

The ceasefire was first announced by US President Donald Trump on social media after Washington held talks with both sides, but India has differed with Trump's claims that it resulted from his intervention and threats to sever trade talks.

India's position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement.

On Monday, Jaishankar, restated its position that trade was not a factor in the ceasefire.

"Relationships will never be free of issues," he said, referring to the United States, adding, "What matters is the ability to deal with it and to keep that trend going in the positive direction."

With Reuters inputs