The Quad nations on Friday established a Working Group on Counter-Terrorism to focus on close cooperation between member states, and try to devise new strategies to counter "new and emerging forms of terrorism, radicalization to violence and violent extremism".
"We look forward to its first meeting in the United States in 2023 to continue our discussions on this global issue," the Quad said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Quad Leaders -- Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and their Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi - promised to "promote accountability" for the perpetrators of terrorist attacks.
The ministers also denounced the "use of terrorist proxies" and stressed that terrorist organizations should be denied "logistical, financial or military support" that could help them in launching attacks against other countries, including cross-border strikes.
Quad Condemns Mumbai and Pathankot Terror Attacks
The Quad nations in a joint statement condemned the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people including foreign nationals, and the 2016 Pathankot airbase terror attack that left seven security personnel and one civilian dead.
"We are committed to working together with our regional and international partners to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks, including through designations by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee," the statement read.
The top diplomats of the four Quad countries expressed their deep concern, saying that terrorism had "become increasingly diffuse" as terrorists have adapted to modern technologies such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Furthermore, the Quad nations highlighted that the terrorists have become adept at using various social media networks and the internet for recruiting new members.
They said the terrorists are also receiving help from such sources to plan and secure finances for their terrorist activities.
Calls for Expansion of UNSC
Besides announcing the establishment of a Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Blinken, Australia's Wong, and Japan's Hayashi emphasized the need for the UN Security Council to be expanded.
"We reiterate our unwavering support for the UN Charter, including its three pillars, and our steadfast commitment to strengthening the UN and international system through a comprehensive reform agenda, including through expansion in permanent and non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council," the statement added.
During the meeting, Jaishankar pointed out that the three major challenges which the group needed to handle are "resilient supply chain, digital challenge, and connectivity."
But he expressed the belief that the Quad could resolve them.
"Three big issues that the Quad and the world need to address - and I think Quad can address and can make a difference. First, a more reliable and resilient supply chain, second, digital challenge of trust and transparency and third, connectivity. I expect these to be a greater part of our agenda," he stated.
The Indian minister also raised the issue of UN Security Council (UNSC) reforms during the G20 Foreign Ministers' summit on Thursday wherein he said that although talks of reforming the body have been going on for decades, nothing has moved forward on the matter.
The expansion of both permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC, has remained on the agenda for decades.
But the UNSC, which at the moment has five permanent members - the US, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France - and 10 non-permanent members, hasn't achieved much progress despite a push from India, Germany, Brazil, and Germany in recent years.