Jaishankar in Washington for Quad Talks, Urges Global Unity Against Terrorism

India’s External Affairs Minister attends key Quad meeting; highlights need for zero tolerance towards terrorism at UN event

WASHINGTON: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Washington, DC on Monday for an official visit to the United States at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. His visit centers around participating in the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM) scheduled for July 1. This meeting builds upon the discussions from the previous QFMM held on January 21 in Washington.

According to a press release from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Quad Foreign Ministers will exchange views on key regional and global issues, with a particular focus on developments in the Indo-Pacific region. They will also assess the progress of ongoing Quad initiatives and prepare for the forthcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India will host. Additionally, the ministers are expected to deliberate on new proposals that further the group’s vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Before arriving in Washington, Jaishankar visited New York, where he inaugurated an exhibition titled The Human Cost of Terrorism at the United Nations Headquarters. In his remarks, he strongly condemned terrorism as a universal threat to peace, regardless of where it occurs. The exhibition, he said, aims to highlight the devastating impact of terrorism on individuals and families and expose the state-sponsored nature of such violence in some cases.

“Paying tribute to those who lost their lives, we stand in solidarity with their families and loved ones,” Jaishankar said. “This exhibition is not just a collection of images and words; it represents our shared humanity. Each piece tells a story of courage, loss, and resilience.”

He stressed the urgent need for zero tolerance towards terrorism, referencing a recent act of terror in Pahalgam that was condemned by the United Nations Security Council. “Terrorists must not go unpunished. They cannot be used as proxies and must not be allowed to resort to nuclear blackmail,” Jaishankar emphasized.

His visit to the United States underscores India’s commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with Quad partners and leading global efforts to combat terrorism. The back-to-back diplomatic engagements also reinforce India’s growing influence in shaping regional security and multilateral dialogue.