Washington D.C. — On July 2, 2025, four Ministers unanimously condemned and demanded justice without directly naming Pakistan.
On July 1st, foreign ministers of the Quad alliance–comprised of the United States, India, Japan and Australia–issued a joint statement condemning April 22’s terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir which resulted in 26 people dying, 25 Indian nationals and 1 Nepali citizen. They extended their deepest sympathies to victims’ families as well as wishes for swift recovery for all injured parties.
The Quad ministers strongly condemned all acts of terrorism and violent extremism, in all forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. They demanded that perpetrators, organizers and financiers of these reprehensible acts be brought before justice as soon as possible and called upon all UN Member States – in keeping with international law obligations and relevant Security Council Resolutions – to work actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.
Notably, the joint statement did not directly attribute responsibility for the attack to any country or group; India has accused Pakistan-based militants of orchestrating it while Pakistan denies involvement and requests an impartial investigation of this incident.
TRF militants — an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — attacked tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. Assailants targeted non-Muslim tourists specifically before opening fire resulting in one of the deadliest attacks against civilians ever seen in this region in recent memory.
After the attack, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further, leading to military engagements along the Line of Control. India conducted airstrikes targeting suspected terrorist infrastructure located within Pakistan-administered Kashmir; Pakistan responded with artillery fire before reaching an agreement for a ceasefire which was eventually reached on May 10, 2025 through diplomatic interventions.
The Quad’s statement emphasizes the significance of international cooperation in combating terrorism and upholding principles of justice and accountability. Ministers pledged their commitment to working together against challenges posed by terrorism while working toward peace and stability throughout Indo-Pacific region.
While condemnation of Pahalgam attack was clear from Quad’s statement, its lack of any direct references to Pakistan reflected the complexity and sensitivity of international diplomacy and this situation. Ministers’ pleas for justice underscore the necessity of taking collective and coordinated action to combat terrorism and prevent future attacks.
As the situation develops, the international community remains vigilant and committed to supporting efforts aimed at bringing those responsible for the Pahalgam attack to justice and ensuring such acts of violence do not go unpunished.