Quad leaders condemn Pahalgam attack, say perpetrators should be brought to justice without delay

Foreign ministers of the Quad grouping—US, India, Japan and Australia—on Tuesday condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and said the perpetrators of this “reprehensible act” should be brought to justice without any delay.

In a joint statement after their meeting in Washington DC, the ministers also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

“The Quad condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews their commitment to counterterrorism cooperation,” they said.

Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed as terrorists sprayed bullets at them after verifying their religious identity in the scenic Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, sparking an intense diplomatic and military confrontation between India and 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," said the Quad statement.

“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," it said.

Earlier, in his remarks to the press before the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India has “every right” to defend its people against terrorism and the partners of the Quad grouping should appreciate that.

“Victims and perpetrators must never be equated and India has every right to defend its people against terrorism and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that,” he said.

The meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi.

World