Quad condemns Red Fort attack, pledges stronger counter-terrorism cooperation

The third Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) meeting, involving India, Japan, Australia, and the United States, took place in New Delhi on December 4 and 5. Quad partners unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and extended condolences for the November 10 terror attack near the Red Fort in Delhi. They urged that the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act be brought to justice and called on all UN Member States to cooperate in this effort.

Held as part of India’s rotation hosting the upcoming Quad Summit, the CTWG was initially established during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi in March 2023. Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, delivered the keynote address, emphasising the need for a common resolve within the Quad to combat terrorism. He urged all members to take steps to make the CTWG a more resilient, robust, and action-oriented working group. He also thanked Quad partners for their support following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The meeting, led by senior counterterrorism officials, included a Tabletop Exercise (TTx) on “Counter Terrorism Operations in the Urban Environment”, allowing experts to share best practices and explore joint operational preparedness for complex terrorist scenarios.

“Quad partners unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They also expressed their condolences for the heinous terror incident on 10 November 2025 near the Red Fort in Delhi. They called for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice and urged all UN Member States to cooperate in doing so,” the Ministry release stated.