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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a firm and unequivocal message on terrorism ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington, DC, asserting New Delhi’s sovereign right to defend its citizens. Speaking in the presence of his counterparts from the US, Japan, and Australia, Jaishankar emphasised that the world must adopt a zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and avoid false equivalence between victims and perpetrators.

“A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience. The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated. 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 stated, as reported by news agency ANI.

Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to a rules-based global order and a secure, inclusive Indo-Pacific. “We are all committed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. To that end, our endeavours are devoted to promoting a rules-based international order. It is essential that nations of the Indo-Pacific have the freedom of choice so essential to make the right decisions on development and security,” he said.

He also confirmed India’s plans to host the next Quad Summit, stating, “We have some proposals on how to make that productive. I am sure so do our partners. We will discuss, and I am sure that we will agree.”

Quad Partners Echo Urgency of Collaboration

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong highlighted the significance of regional unity amid global uncertainty. “Unfortunately, we meet against the backdrop of conflict and escalating competition. So, it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strengths for peace, for stability, for prosperity in Indo-Pacific and for all our people,” she said, noting that the four Quad countries represent nearly a quarter of the global population and over a third of the world’s GDP.

Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya also underlined the importance of Quad cohesion. “The fact that the four Foreign Ministers are once again gathering here in Washington, DC only 6 months later demonstrates the strength of the unity and importance of Quad,” he said. Stressing the region’s importance, he added, “The Indo-Pacific Region, where our four countries are located, is the growth engine of the global economy… peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region are essential for the prosperity of international community.”

US Reaffirms Commitment to the Quad

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the discussions and praised the progress in the Quad platform. “We are honoured to host them here today in this very important partnership… which has really taken the wings in the last few months and we want to continue to build on it,” he said. He noted that the Quad could deliver real progress on issues such as diversifying supply chains of critical minerals and addressing global challenges.

According to ANI, Rubio added, “There are many global problems, but also problems that we face in our respective countries, that can be solved by us cooperating.”

Defence Dialogue with the US on Sidelines

Separately, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Singh said, “Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen India-US defence partnership and strengthen cooperation in capacity building. Conveyed my deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by the US to India in its fight against terrorism.”