Quad nations step up counterterror cooperation at New Delhi meeting; India thanks partners for support after Pahalgam attack
New Delhi, December 6. The four Quad member nations – India, United States, Australia and Japan – renewed their commitment to strengthening joint counterterror efforts at the 3rd Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) meeting held in New Delhi on December 4–5. The meeting formed part of India’s rotational preparations for hosting the next Quad Summit, with the CTWG originally established during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi in March 2023.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on December 6, delivering the keynote address, Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry, called for a stronger collective resolve within the Quad to address the growing threats posed by terrorism. He urged member states to make the CTWG more resilient and action-driven, while thanking Japan, the US, and Australia for their solidarity and support following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Senior counterterrorism officials from all four countries led their respective delegations: Vinod Bahade from India’s Ministry of External Affairs; Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Ambassador Gemma Huggins; Japan’s Ambassador Hiroyuki Minami; and the US State Department’s senior official Monica Ager Jacobsen.
The Quad partners jointly condemned terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and expressed condolences over the November 10 terror attack near Delhi’s Red Fort. They called for all those responsible – perpetrators, financiers, and organisers – to be brought to justice, urging UN member states to fully cooperate.
Officials exchanged detailed assessments of evolving terror threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, and discussed the broad spectrum of tools and collaborative measures needed to address current and emerging challenges. They stressed the need to ensure that the region remains open, stable, and free from terrorism.
A tabletop exercise on counterterror operations in urban environments was also conducted, providing an opportunity for experts to share best practices and explore ways to improve joint preparedness for complex terror scenarios.
Reaffirming their commitment to coordination in multilateral platforms, the Quad countries emphasised the importance of sustained information sharing on terrorists, their networks, and their facilitators.
India also highlighted two CTWG workshops it hosted in September 2025 – one on countering the use of drones for terrorist activities and another on preventing terror financing through new and emerging technologies. The National Security Guard and National Investigation Agency conducted the workshops in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs.
