Desk:In a joint statement, the Quad nations have warned China and Pakistan, who are known for their frequent conspiracies against India. The statement condemned the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and the Pathankot attack, calling for strict action against the perpetrators through the UN Security Council’s 1276 Sanctions Committee. The Quad leaders unanimously condemned terrorism and violent extremism, reiterating their commitment to fighting terrorism.
The statement declared, “We condemn the Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks once again.” The topic of counter-terrorism was extensively discussed during the Quad Working Group meeting held last year in Honolulu, and the upcoming meeting is scheduled for November in Japan. India has consistently exposed Pakistan’s true face to the world and maintained a firm stance against terrorism. Internationally, India leaves no stone unturned in criticizing Pakistan’s actions.
Following the fourth Quad meeting, the Wilmington Declaration stated, “Four years after elevating Quad to a leader-level format, the group stands more strategically united than ever before. Quad is a group formed for the right reasons and is leaving a real, positive, and lasting impact on the Indo-Pacific.” The declaration also celebrated Quad’s rapid rise into a key regional group within just four years, stating it will continue to strengthen the Indo-Pacific for decades to come.
A Clear Message to China The statement highlighted, “As four major maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific region, we stand together to maintain the peace and stability that is essential for global security and prosperity.” Indirectly referring to China, the group opposed any destabilizing or unilateral actions attempting to alter the status quo through force or coercion. China has disputes with several countries over the South China Sea and East China Sea, claiming sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, while Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, and Taiwan also lay claims to parts of the region.
The declaration further stated, “We condemn the recent illegal missile launches that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. We express deep concern over dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no nation dominates another, where all nations are free from coercion and can exercise their right to determine their own future.” The Quad nations reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a stable and free international order that upholds human rights, freedom, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution as per the UN Charter and international law.
New Maritime Initiative and Future Collaborations The Quad also announced a new regional maritime initiative, named “MAITRI,” for training in the Indo-Pacific. This initiative will help regional partners maximize the use of tools provided by the Quad, such as the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) system, for monitoring and safeguarding their waters, enforcing laws, and preventing illegal activities. The declaration mentioned, “We look forward to hosting the first MAITRI workshop in India in 2025.” Additionally, the Quad expressed support for maintaining a rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific and welcomed the launch of Quad Maritime Legal Dialogue. The Quad partners aim to add new technologies and data to the IPMDA next year, providing state-of-the-art capabilities to the region.