The United States has expressed strong support for India’s right to defend itself following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth conveyed solidarity with India and reiterated the US government’s backing of India’s fight against terrorism during a call with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Hegseth expressed condolences and affirmed that the US supports India’s right to take necessary defensive actions39.
This stance was further underscored by other US officials. Tulsi Gabbard, US intelligence chief, explicitly supported India’s efforts to hunt down those responsible for the attack, describing it as an Islamist terrorist attack targeting Hindus2. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in talks with both Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging both sides to avoid escalation while reaffirming US support for India against terrorism12.
President Donald Trump has maintained a balanced approach, expressing closeness to both India and Pakistan but affirming confidence that the two countries would resolve the issue themselves. However, Trump’s administration has shown a tilt towards India by granting security-related exemptions to Pakistan while simultaneously calling out Pakistan in the past for harboring terrorists2.
Overall, the US response combines clear support for India’s right to defend itself and combat terrorism with calls for de-escalation and cooperation between India and Pakistan to maintain regional peace and stability1248. This nuanced position reflects Washington’s strategic interests in South Asia amid complex geopolitics and the importance of stability in the Indo-Pacific region
