India Signals Firm Anti-Terror Stance at Quad Meeting in Washington
Following a Quad foreign ministers' meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India's recent 'Operation Sindoor' conveyed with “great clarity” that it will act decisively against terrorism. The joint Quad statement strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack and called for perpetrators to be brought to justice. Jaishankar emphasized that India has a right to defend itself and expects partners to understand this position, reinforcing the country's assertive stance on cross-border terrorism on a major international platform.
Unpacked:
Operation Sindoor was a targeted Indian military response on May 7–8, 2025, against terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. It was prompted by the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where the Pakistan-based group The Resistance Front killed 26 tourists in India. The operation aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure without targeting military assets.
In response to Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched coordinated drone and missile strikes targeting over a dozen Indian military installations in the early hours of May 8, 2025. India's air defense systems intercepted these attacks and found debris traced to Pakistani origin, indicating the escalation risks of such operations.
Unlike previous actions such as the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Operation Sindoor involved more extensive, precise targeting of terrorist infrastructure deep within Pakistan. The operation marked a shift to assured and clear military retaliation for cross-border terrorism, rather than mere symbolic responses.
The Quad’s joint statement condemning the Pahalgam attack and supporting the pursuit of justice signals international backing for India’s right to self-defense against terrorism. It also demonstrates solidarity among Quad members (U.S., India, Japan, Australia) in upholding regional security and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.