Quad countries exchange information on ever-evolving terrorism threats in Indo-Pacific region

New Delhi: The US Department of State hosted representatives from India, Japan and Australia for the Quad Counterterrorism Working Group meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii from December 19 to 21.

The aim was to strengthen efforts, including information sharing, to counter extremism in the Indo-Pacific region.

As part of the Quad Counterterrorism Working Group’s efforts, this multi-day event included presentations and a tabletop exercise focused on enhancing Quad cooperation in response to an overwhelming terrorist incident in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a US State Department statement.Discussions included exchanging information on ever-evolving terrorism threats, further developing regional coordination mechanisms, and countering terrorist use of emerging technologies.

Participants explored what capabilities and support the Quad could offer, and how the Quad might coordinate in order to support the existing capacities of Indo-Pacific countries.

Gregory LoGerfo, acting principal deputy coordinator for counterterrorism, led the US interagency delegation.The Quad convenes four like-minded regional partners—the US, Australia, India and Japan—to make tangible progress on pressing challenges within the region and support a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient, the statement affirmed.During their meeting in September, the Quad foreign ministers held detailed discussion on counter-terror partnership.

“We also discussed the recent Quad Counterterrorism Working Group’s Consequence Management Exercise, which explored the capabilities and support Quad countries could offer regional partners in response to a terrorist attack and look forward to the upcoming Quad Counterterrorism Working Group meeting and tabletop exercise in Honolulu, Hawaii in December, which will focus on countering the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes,” the Quad foreign minister’s statement issued at that time said.

“We continue to cooperate on countering the use of the internet and other technologies for terrorist and violent extremist purposes. We are committed to countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including preventing the international and cross-border movement of terrorists, and countering terror finance networks and safe havens. We stressed the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach to effectively curb terrorist activities through whole of nation and whole of international community efforts,” the statement added.