US Vice President JD Vance has said Washington hopes India’s response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, doesn’t trigger a wider regional conflict. He urged Pakistan to cooperate in identifying and eliminating the perpetrators.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours have soared, with India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing airspace, and engaging in cross-border shelling. Pakistan has denied involvement and demanded a neutral investigation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken to both Indian and Pakistani leaders, urging restraint and a “responsible resolution”. The State Department said it remains in constant touch with both governments.
The assault, which took place in a remote scenic meadow accessible only by foot or pony ride, has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
In the wake of the attack, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging cooperation in the investigation and measures to de-escalate the situation.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, in his first public response, warned of a strong and targeted reply to every terror incident. “If anyone sees this attack as a victory, they should know this is Narendra Modi’s India—we will take revenge, one by one,” Shah said.
Following the attack, India took a series of diplomatic steps: suspending parts of the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani military attaches, closing airspace to Pakistani aircraft, and sealing the Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan responded with similar countermeasures, including suspending the Simla Agreement.`
