New Delhi – The third Quad Counterterrorism Working Group (CTWG) meeting took place in New Delhi from December 4 to 5, 2025, with India, Japan, Australia, and the United States reaffirming their commitment to fighting global terrorism. This meeting follows the establishment of the Quad CTWG during the 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India.
Indian Ambassador Sibi George, who gave the keynote address, called for a unified stance against terrorism within the Quad, urging member nations to make the CTWG more resilient and action-oriented. He also expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by Quad countries following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025.
Senior officials from each nation attended the meeting, including Dr. Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism from India’s Ministry of External Affairs; Gemma Huggins, Australia’s Ambassador for Counter Terrorism; MINAMI Hiroyuki, Japan’s Ambassador for International Cooperation on Countering Terrorism; and Monica Ager Jacobsen, Senior Bureau Official for the U.S. Department of State Counterterrorism Bureau.
The Quad nations condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. They extended condolences for the tragic November 10, 2025, attack near the Red Fort in Delhi and called for the apprehension of those responsible. The group reiterated the need for international cooperation in bringing terrorists and their financiers to justice.
The meeting also focused on the evolving terrorism threat in the Indo-Pacific region. Participants exchanged insights on counterterrorism strategies and discussed ways to address emerging challenges. A significant part of the discussions included a tabletop exercise on “Counter Terrorism Operations in the Urban Environment,” which allowed experts to share best practices and improve operational preparedness.
In addition to the strategic discussions, the Quad members emphasized the importance of continued information sharing about terrorist organizations and their activities. The group also stressed the need for multilateral cooperation, including within the United Nations, to combat terrorism.
Earlier in 2025, India hosted workshops on countering the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for terrorism and preventing the exploitation of emerging technologies for terror financing.
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