US cautions India against escalation following Pahalgam attack

Washington wants both nuclear-armed neighbours to avoid further escalation.

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US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington hopes India’s response to the recent attack in Indian Illegally Ocuppied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) does not trigger a broader regional conflict.

“Our hope here is that India responds to this attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said in an interview on Fox News.

He added that Washington expects Pakistan to cooperate in tracking down and dealing with militants, “to the extent that they’re responsible.”

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, making it one of the worst assaults in the region since 2000. India has implied cross-border involvement, while Pakistan has rejected the claim and called for a neutral investigation.

Top US leaders, including President Donald Trump, have condemned the attack and expressed support for India, but stopped short of directly blaming Pakistan.

Washington considers both India and Pakistan key regional players.

While India remains central to the US strategy to counter China, Pakistan’s strategic importance has declined following the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The State Department said it is engaging both countries at multiple levels.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate calls with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, urging de-escalation and a “responsible solution.”

India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines, and fired across the Line of Control. Islamabad has responded by restricting Indian diplomatic staff and denying involvement in the attack.

At the United Nations, Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad met Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday to discuss “the evolving security situation in South Asia.”

A press release from Pakistan’s mission to the UN said the ambassador reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace and regional stability.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that Guterres had spoken with both Indian and Pakistani leaders following the attack and had offered his “good offices” to mediate, but travel to the region was unlikely unless both sides agreed to his involvement.