New Delhi, May 26: The QUAD grouping, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, on Tuesday strongly condemned the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack and reiterated its commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” while expressing concern over coercive actions and rising tensions in key maritime regions.
In a joint statement issued after the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi under India’s chairmanship, the grouping — comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia,—called for adherence to international law and peaceful resolution of disputes in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ministers said peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific depended on respecting sovereignty, maintaining freedom of navigation and resolving disputes without the use of force.
The statement criticised attempts to alter the status quo through coercive or unilateral measures and underlined the importance of maintaining stability in international waters.
The Quad also stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted maritime trade through crucial sea routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
The grouping condemned attacks on commercial shipping vessels and opposed measures that could hamper free navigation and trade in violation of international law, including provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Without naming any country directly, the Quad expressed serious concern over developments in the East China Sea and South China Sea, referring to dangerous manoeuvres and aggressive actions in disputed waters.
It cited incidents involving obstruction of vessels, unsafe maritime conduct and the use of water cannons and flares, and called for all disputes to be settled peacefully and in accordance with international law.
The ministers also reaffirmed the significance of the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, describing it as an important basis for peaceful dispute resolution.
On terrorism, the Quad condemned terror activities in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and specifically referred to the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam.
The grouping also condemned the December 14, 2025, attack at Bondi Beach and called for stronger global cooperation against terrorism.
“We call for sustained and coordinated international action against terrorists, terror organisations, their sponsors, financiers and affiliated networks,” the statement said.
The Quad further raised concerns over the rise of organised cybercrime and online scam centres operating in parts of Southeast Asia.
It said such networks were linked to human trafficking, financial crimes, cyber fraud and online exploitation, and stressed the need for closer law enforcement cooperation among countries.
On maritime security cooperation, the Quad welcomed India’s operationalisation of maritime monitoring initiatives under the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) through the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram.
The grouping said efforts were underway to strengthen information-sharing mechanisms and develop a common operational picture across the Indo-Pacific region to improve maritime surveillance and coordination.
The statement also reiterated support for ASEAN centrality and regional organisations, including the Pacific Islands Forum and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
The Quad additionally expressed concern over the continuing conflict in Myanmar and its impact on regional peace and stability. (KNO)
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