Quad members are sharpening their counterterrorism coordination this month with India taking the lead in hosting key events despite uncertainty over the proposed November leaders’ summit. The focus has shifted toward terrorists’ misuse of advanced technologies ranging from drones to artificial intelligence, reflecting a growing recognition that the battle against extremism now extends into the digital and technological domains.

On September 23–24, the National Security Guard (NSG) will conduct a specialised technical exchange at its Manesar garrison, centring on the misuse of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) by terrorist groups. 

The exercise will encompass identification of evolving UAV threats, creation of refined national-level counter-drone policies, and exploration of frameworks for sharing best practices within Quad members. Subject matter experts will participate in cooperative exchanges designed to anticipate terrorist innovation with drones, especially concerning weaponisation, surveillance, and cross-border infiltration.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will host an international seminar on September 26 that expands the counterterrorism agenda further into high-tech domains. The seminar will highlight terrorist exploitation of artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, encrypted platforms, deep-fake technologies, and even the emerging metaverse.

Discussions will center on preventing terrorists from using these tools for propaganda, recruitment, financing, and planning. Officials emphasise capacity building, enhanced intelligence sharing, and joint research initiatives across Quad nations to create safeguards against digital-age terror threats.

India has positioned counterterrorism as a central plank in the Quad’s evolving security agenda. This emphasis is underscored by New Delhi’s insistence on strong language during the July foreign ministers’ meeting in Washington that condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Although the initial delay in condemnation was a diplomatic irritant, the eventual firm and unequivocal statement calling for punishment of perpetrators reassured India about Quad’s alignment on its core security concerns.

The initiatives unfold against a backdrop of shifting Indo-Pacific geopolitics. U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to recalibrate ties with China through a potential trade deal has raised concerns about whether Quad momentum will be diluted. Nevertheless, two recent rounds of foreign ministers’ meetings affirm that the grouping continues to consolidate its role as a platform for collective action in critical areas including security and technology governance.

Beyond counterterrorism, the Quad is also set to move into infrastructure and connectivity. In October, India will host a transportation and logistics conference in Mumbai to formally launch the "Ports of the Future Partnership." This initiative, backed by a White House factsheet, aims to complement infrastructure expertise developed under the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program, thereby strengthening maritime connectivity and resilience across the Indo-Pacific.

While Quad-wide engagement is proceeding steadily, the India–US bilateral track has been under stress due to broader political shifts. Despite this, defence collaboration has remained intact. Joint military exercises, arms co-development talks, and counterterrorism coordination have not been interrupted, showcasing that hard-security interests continue to bind the two nations irrespective of diplomatic ebbs and flows.

If successfully implemented, the September counterterrorism activities could provide a model framework for transnational partnerships against technologically enabled terror threats. The alignment of India, Japan, Australia, and the United States on these issues reinforces Quad’s role as both a security guarantor and a guardian of international stability against unconventional threats that exploit technology’s frontier.

Based On ANI Report