Quad counterterror group calls for swift action against Red Fort attackers

The 3rd Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) meeting of India, Japan, Australia and the United States was held here this week, with the grouping calling for the perpetrators, organisers and financiers of the recent terror incident near the Red Fort to be brought to justice, and urging all UN member states to cooperate. Quad partners "unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism," a joint statement issued on Saturday said.

Ahead of the Quad meeting, India and the United States held the 21st Meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and the 7th Designations Dialogue. Both sides strongly condemned the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and the November 10, 2025 incident near the Red Fort, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable, according to an MEA statement.

India and the US also voiced concern over the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and AI for terrorist purposes. They called for additional UN 1267 designations of ISIS and al-Qa'ida affiliates, as well as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and their proxy groups, supporters, sponsors, financiers and backers, ensuring they face a global asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.


The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation on training, cybersecurity, exchange of best practices and information sharing, along with enhanced law enforcement and judicial cooperation, including through mutual legal assistance. Both emphasised that confronting terrorism requires sustained and comprehensive joint action.

At the Quad CTWG meet, Sibi George, Secretary (West), MEA, delivered the keynote address, calling for a strengthened, more resilient and action-oriented Working Group. Quad members exchanged assessments of the evolving terrorism threat landscape, including in the Indo-Pacific, and reviewed the full spectrum of counterterrorism cooperation and tools to address existing and emerging challenges. They underscored the importance of ensuring that the Indo-Pacific remains open and free from terrorist threats.

A Tabletop Exercise (TTx) on "Counter Terrorism Operations in the Urban Environment" was also conducted. The Quad partners stressed the continued importance of information sharing on terrorists, terror organisations and their proxies.