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COVER STORY JULY 11, 2025 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIA @ QUAD

TARGET TERROR

BACKERS

At the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington, India took center stage, pushing

the grouping to back its firm stance against terrorism even as the alliance broadened its
strategic focus across critical minerals, maritime security, and emerging technologies

OUR BUREAU
Washington, DC / New Delhi
n the heart of Washington, amid
a shifting geopolitical landscape
Iand mounting security challeng-
es in the Indo-Pacific, India used the
10th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meet-
ing (QFMM) to reassert itself not just
as a regional power—but as a global
voice against terrorism. External Af-
fairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s pow-
erful messaging around Operation
Sindoor, India’s calibrated military
response to the Pahalgam terror at-
tack, placed counterterrorism front
and center on the Quad’s evolving
agenda.
Operation Sindoor, launched in
May following the April 22 attack
that killed 25 Indian nationals and
one Nepali citizen, marked a pivot-
al moment in India’s approach to
asymmetric threats. In Washington,
Jaishankar made it clear that India
would not only act against perpetra- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting, in Washington, D.C (ANI Photo)
tors but also expose enablers, a veiled
reference to Pakistan’s alleged role in the Pahalgam attack. It was one of counterterrorism cooperation as a called for the immediate prosecution
cross-border terrorism. “We will act the clearest acknowledgments yet of strategic pillar. of those responsible for the Pahal-
against the perpetrators, the support- India’s long-standing struggle with “India has faced the challenge of gam attack, and urged all UN mem-
ers, the enablers,” Jaishankar assert- cross-border terrorism. terrorism for decades,” Jaishankar ber states to act under relevant inter-
ed. “That message was conveyed with said. “Our response must be firm, national laws and Security Council
great clarity.” STRATEGIC MESSAGING our resolve unshaken. And we have resolutions to cooperate with Indian
His message was not just for pub- India’s push came as the Quad the right to defend ourselves.” That authorities. The statement marked
lic consumption—it was embedded in itself entered a new phase of insti- declaration, delivered in bilateral and one of the strongest collective po-
the diplomatic fabric of the QFMM. tutional maturity. What started as a multilateral settings in Washington, sitions on terrorism adopted by the
India’s effort to internationalize its post-tsunami consultative forum has served as both a warning and a dip- Quad so far.
security concerns received signifi- now become a strategic platform lomatic overture—urging Quad na-
cant backing from its Quad partners: dealing with a broad spectrum of tions to adopt a common approach to THE STRATEGIC GLUE
the United States, Japan, and Aus- regional challenges—maritime secu- counterterrorism, much like they do India’s influence within the Quad
tralia. The joint statement issued by rity, critical minerals, supply chains, with maritime freedom and critical is also bolstered by its deepening bi-
the four nations unequivocally con- digital infrastructure, and humanitar- technologies. lateral relationship with the Unit-
demned all forms of terrorism and ian relief. In that expanding agenda, The message resonated. In their
expressed solidarity with India over India saw an opportunity to embed joint communique, Quad members Continued on next page... >>

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