Quad to push track 1.5 Dialogue, 'concerned' about Afghanistan, Myanmar

"A fitting end to a busy day. Quad FMs visit the @MCG. Presented  @MarisePayne (Australian FM)  with a bat signed by Virat Kohli/Viratians A message of fair play and rules of the game". -- tweets Dr S Jaishankar, foreign minister 

New Delhi

At the crucial Foreign Ministers' meeting of Quad nations - India, Australia, Japan and the United States - the forum pledged to strengthen people-to-people ties and push track 1.5 Dialogue. 

Jaishankar presents Bat signed by Virat Kohli to Ausie counterpart

"We reaffirm UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist acts, with such ungoverned spaces being a direct threat to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific," said a Joint Statement issued at the end of the meet attended by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and three of his counterparts.

It was also stated that the Quad "remains gravely concerned about the crisis in Myanmar and call for an end to violence, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including foreigners, and unhindered humanitarian access".

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, and two of his counterparts from

Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi and US,  Antony Blinken and Dr Jaishankar held the fourth Quad Foreign

Ministers' meet in Melbourne, Australia on Friday, Feb 11. 

"We reaffirm our belief that our people-to-people ties are among the Quad’s greatest strengths and welcomed the United States’ new exchange programs in the fields of cyber security, maritime security, countering disinformation, and promoting transparency in governance. We are exploring a track 1.5 dialogue between our respective strategic thinkers," it said.

The Track 1.5 dialogues are conversations that include a mix of government officials—who participate in 

an unofficial capacity—and non-governmental experts, all sitting around the same table together.

Track 2 usually signifies coming together of unofficial representatives from two or multiple sides.

"Alongside our Quad Foreign Ministers’ agenda, we welcome other ongoing work in delivering Quad Leaders’ 

ambitious initiatives in key areas, such as the Quad Vaccine Partnership, climate change, cyber security, 

infrastructure, and the peaceful use of outer space, education, and critical and emerging technologies".

"We reaffirm our support for ASEAN efforts to seek a solution in Myanmar and call on the military regime 

to urgently implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and swiftly return Myanmar to the path of 

democracy. We encourage the international community to work together to support an end to the violence," they said.

The Statement condemned North Korea’s "destabilising ballistic missile launches" in violation of UN Security 

Council resolutions (UNSCRs) and reaffirmed Quad's commitment to the complete denuclearisation of 

North Korea consistent with UNSCRs, and reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of 

Japanese abductees.

At their meeting the Ministers prepared the ground for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit to be hosted by 

Japan in the first half of the year.

They also reviewed cooperation in several key areas such as the Covid-19 response, maritime security 

and the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad will meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas. 

"We are determined to deepen engagement with regional partners, including through capacity-building and 

technical assistance, to strengthen maritime domain awareness; protect their ability to develop offshore resources".

ends