Expressing his sorrow for the lives lost in the “horrific terrorist attack” in Pahalgam, Rubio also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to “de-escalate tensions” and maintain peace and security in South Asia
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with US counterpart Marco Rubio on Wednesday and discussed the recent terrorist attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Jaishankar stated that the perpetrators, backers, and planners of the attack must be brought to justice.
“Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice,” Jaishankar posted on X.
During the talks, Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. Expressing his sorrow for the lives lost in the “horrific terrorist attack” in Pahalgam, Rubio also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to “de-escalate tensions” and maintain peace and security in South Asia, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
The talks between the two leaders come as there has been a rise in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 brutal attack in Pahalgam, where terrorists killed 26 people and injured many others. The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army’s unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC.
Following the attack, India has taken several measures against Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism, including holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance and closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari. India has also decided to curtail the strength of High Commissions.
Earlier, on April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also present at the meeting.
The meeting took place days after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 23, following the terror attack in Pahalgam. Government sources said PM Modi affirmed that it is India’s national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism.
The sources said PM Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian Armed Forces. They said that PM Modi stated that the Indian Armed Forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday, was attended by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce shunned a Pakistani journalist’s questioning over India-Pakistan border tensions following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people while several others were injured.
When asked about the border tensions between India and Pakistan during the press briefing on Thursday (local time), Bruce responded, “I am not going to be remarking on it. I appreciate this, and perhaps, we will come back to you with another subject. I will say nothing more on that situation. The President and the Secretary have said things, as have the deputy secretary; they have made their positions clear. I will not continue with something of that manner.”
As many as 26 people were killed in India, and several others were injured after terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
While addressing a press briefing on Thursday (local time), Bruce said that US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have made clear that the US stands with India and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism. She said that the US prays for those who lost their lives in the attack and for the recovery of the injured.
On terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Bruce said, “As President Trump and Secretary Rubio have made clear, the United States stands with India, strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. We pray for the lives of those lost and pray for the recovery of the injured and call for the perpetrators of this heinous act to be brought to justice.”
The US administration under President Donald Trump continues to support India after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and offered his condolences at the loss of lives in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Trump condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this “heinous attack.”
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated, “President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump @POTUS called PM @narendramodi and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror.”
US Vice President JD Vance also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
