During the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting held in the United States, Dr. S. Jaishankar delivered a strong and clear message concerning terrorism, regional security, and the freedom within the Indo-Pacific region. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar reiterated India's stance against terrorism stating that the world should adopt a policy of zero tolerance, and there should never be any equivalence between victims and perpetrators.
Referring to recent incidents, Jaishankar emphasized India’s right to defend its people. He asserted that India retains the full right to protect its citizens from terrorism and will continue to exercise this right. We anticipate that our Quad partners will understand and appreciate this stand.
This statement comes at a time when India has been grappling with terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas. The Foreign Minister’s address is seen as an aggressive and clear articulation of India’s foreign policy approach, especially regarding security matters.
Emphasizing Freedom and Development in the Indo-Pacific
Highlighting Quad's objectives, Dr. Jaishankar mentioned, “I am thrilled to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington D.C. for the second time this year. We are all committed to keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open. Our efforts are concentrated on promoting a rules-based international order. It's essential for countries in the Indo-Pacific region to have complete freedom in making independent decisions regarding their development and security.
India to Host the Next Quad Summit
On this occasion, Jaishankar also announced that India will be hosting the next Quad Summit. He stated, “We have some proposals that could make this meeting more productive. I am confident that our Quad partners will also bring some excellent ideas that we can discuss and reach a consensus on.”
Quad: Platform for Cooperation, Security, and Stability
It is noteworthy that the Quad, which includes India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, aims to safeguard security, economic cooperation, and democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region. Amidst China's growing influence and global instability, the role and significance of the Quad have notably increased in recent years.
