US Vice-President JD Vance has expressed hope that Pakistan will work with India to track down those behind last month’s deadly attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance said, “We hope India responds in a way that avoids escalating into a larger regional conflict. At the same time, we expect Pakistan—if involved—to assist India in bringing those responsible to justice.”
Vance was visiting India with his family when the attack took place, claiming 26 lives, including 25 tourists and one local resident of Kashmir. It was the deadliest civilian attack in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. He had earlier condemned the attack in a post on X and expressed support for the victims’ families.
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.`
