New Delhi: Washington, April 28, 2025 — Following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, the United States has urged both India and Pakistan to work towards a “responsible resolution” of their escalating tensions. The US State Department issued a statement on Sunday, emphasizing its ongoing communication with both nations while urging them to resolve their differences in a responsible manner.
While publicly supporting India in the wake of the attack, the US government has refrained from directly criticizing Pakistan. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack on April 22, which targeted civilians, but Pakistan denies any involvement and has called for an impartial investigation. A US State Department spokesperson said, “This is an evolving situation and we are monitoring developments closely. We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels. The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution.”
The US has repeatedly condemned the terrorist attack, with both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance offering their condolences and standing in solidarity with India. However, analysts point out that while India has become an increasingly crucial partner for the US in countering China’s influence in Asia, Pakistan’s role as an ally has waned, especially after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst based in Washington, noted that India’s growing closeness to the US might cause concern in Islamabad. He said, “If India retaliates militarily, the US may sympathize with its counter-terrorism efforts and not try to stand in the way.” Kugelman also acknowledged that Washington, dealing with complex global issues such as the war in Ukraine and the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, might not immediately intervene in the India-Pakistan situation.
Hussain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, also observed that the US does not appear to have any immediate interest in de-escalating the tensions. “India has a longstanding grievance about terrorism emanating or supported from across the border. Pakistan has a longstanding belief that India wants to dismember it. Both work themselves into a frenzy every few years. This time, there is no US interest in calming things down,” Haqqani said.
The tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified due to the long-standing Kashmir dispute. Both nations claim the Muslim-majority region in full, and each controls only parts of it. The situation has escalated further after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to pursue the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack “to the ends of the earth,” warning that those responsible will face severe punishment. In India, there have been growing calls for military action against Pakistan in retaliation.
Following the attack, both countries implemented measures against each other, with Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines, and India suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates the sharing of water from the Indus River and its tributaries. The two sides have also exchanged gunfire along their de facto border, which had remained largely peaceful for the past four years.
A terrorist group known as Kashmir Resistance, also referred to as The Resistance Front, claimed responsibility for the attack on social media. Indian security agencies, however, believe that the group is a front for Pakistan-based organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Ned Price, a former US State Department official under President Joe Biden, warned that the perception that the US would back India unconditionally could exacerbate the situation. “The Trump Administration has made clear it wishes to deepen the US-India partnership — a laudable goal — but that it is willing to do so at almost any cost. If India feels that the Trump Administration will back it to the hilt no matter what, we could be in store for more escalation and more violence between these nuclear-armed neighbors,” Price said.
The US continues to closely monitor the situation, encouraging both nations to work toward peace and stability despite the rising tensions in the region.
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