Washington, May 2: In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead, US Vice President JD Vance has called for measured action from India, urging restraint to prevent a broader regional conflict. Speaking on Fox News’s Special Report with Bret Baier on Thursday (local time), Vance emphasized the need for India to respond cautiously while also calling on Pakistan to cooperate in tracking down the perpetrators.
“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said. “And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with,” he added.
The Vice President’s comments come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 25 attack, which took place in the tourist hotspot of Pahalgam. The attack, which claimed the lives of 25 visiting tourists and one local resident, is considered the deadliest assault on civilians in the Kashmir Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.
Vance and his family were on a four-day official visit to India when the attack occurred. Shortly afterward, he condemned the violence in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.
The assault reportedly targeted a scenic meadow accessible only by hiking or pony rides, suggesting a calculated plan by the attackers to strike at civilians in a remote, vulnerable setting.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stepped up diplomatic engagement, speaking with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Rubio urged Pakistan to assist in the ongoing investigation and to take steps to help de-escalate the tense situation.
As the international community watches closely, Washington’s call for restraint and cooperation reflects concerns about the potential for escalating hostilities in an already volatile region.
