New Delhi, Sept. 13 -- Even as New Delhi works to consolidate a diplomatic thaw with Beijing, the Quad has advanced towards operationalising a logistics network designed to expedite humanitarian and disaster-relief operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia, India, Japan and the United States recently concluded a tabletop exercise in Tokyo aimed at driving forward the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday, the four participating nations achieved "significant progress" regarding standard operating procedures intended to establish a formal institutional framework for the network.

The drill, hosted by Japan's Ministry of Defence on September 3...