India’s attempt to secure a direct reference to Pakistan in a joint statement issued by Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), the four-member group comprising of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia on the April 22 Pahalgam attack fell short, as the alliance condemned the incident but refrained from naming any country.
The foreign ministers of QUAD met in Washington, D.C. on June 25, 2025 and issued a statement denouncing the attack in Pahalgam, located in Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including one Nepali national.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of orchestrating the incident, alleging financial and logistical support. However, despite repeated requests from Pakistan, India has not made any evidence public. The joint statement, released through the U.S. State Department, stopped short of naming Pakistan and instead referred more generally to “cross-border terrorism.”
“The terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, is condemned in the strongest terms. We demand prompt justice for the individuals responsible, as well as those who orchestrated and funded this act,” the statement said.
Pakistan has rejected India’s allegations and called for an independent and impartial investigation into the matter. QUAD’s statement urged UN member states to cooperate with relevant authorities under international law and existing UN Security Council resolutions but avoided attributing blame.
The statement further added: “We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and reaffirm our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation.”
The meeting was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
Following the Pahalgam attack, tensions escalated between India and Pakistan. On May 7, the Indian Air Force launched airstrikes on civilian areas inside Pakistan, claiming to target militant infrastructure. Pakistan responded by downing several Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. The exchange of fire between both sides continued for days, leading to military and civilian casualties and fears of an all-out war between the two nuclear-armed nations.
While India sought stronger language and an explicit reference to Pakistan, the final QUAD statement maintained a broader diplomatic tone, yet another blow to India’s diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan.