The foreign ministers of the Quad group have issued a strong warning about the increasing use of new technologies by terrorist organizations. In a joint statement following their meeting in Tokyo, the ministers—India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australia’s Penny Wong, and Japan’s Yoko Kamikawa—expressed grave concerns over the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, tunnels, and advanced communication technologies by terrorist groups such as Al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The statement emphasized the necessity of international cooperation to counter these threats and called for decisive action against all UN-listed terrorist groups. It highlighted the importance of bringing to justice those responsible for major attacks such as the 26/11 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot incidents.
The Quad ministers also discussed the progress of the Quad Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, established in New Delhi last year, noting fruitful discussions and exercises aimed at developing response strategies to terrorist incidents in the Indo-Pacific region.
The statement also touched upon broader regional issues, including the need for a comprehensive peace plan for Ukraine in accordance with international law, and concerns about China’s regional actions. It affirmed the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, upholding democratic values, and countering foreign interference and disinformation. The Quad reiterated its dedication to promoting human rights, media freedom, and addressing online abuse.
