India's Stand on Terrorism: Jaishankar Calls for Zero Tolerance

In a firm declaration, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that victims and perpetrators of terrorism must never be equated, reinforcing India's right to defend its citizens against terror threats. Addressing his counterparts from the US, Australia, and Japan, Jaishankar called for understanding and support from India's Quad partners.

The remarks came ahead of a pivotal Quad foreign ministers' meeting hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Jaishankar underscored the importance of zero tolerance towards terrorism and the necessity for nations in the Indo-Pacific to maintain the autonomy required for sound security and development decisions.

Jaishankar noted significant progress in various Quad initiatives, acknowledging enhanced coordination in the maritime, logistics, education, and political arenas. As India plans to host the next Quad summit, the minister outlined proposals for bolstering the group's efficiency and effectiveness.

(With inputs from agencies.)