WASHINGTON: United States Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday Washington hoped that India’s response to the recent attack in occupied Kashmir would not lead to a broader regional conflict.
“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News titled ‘Special Report with Bret Baier. He said that Pakistan cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with,” Vance added. Top US leaders, including President Donald Trump, have condemned the attack, calling it “terror” and “unconscionable,” while expressing support for India without directly blaming Pakistan. India is an important US partner as Washington aims to counter China’s rising influence. Pakistan remains Washington’s ally even as its importance diminished after the 2021 US withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan.
In recent days, Washington urged India and Pakistan to work with each other to de-escalate tensions and arrive at a “responsible solution.” India has blamed Pakistan for the attack. Islamabad denies responsibility and is calling for a neutral probe. The US State Department has said it was in touch with the nuclear-armed neighbors at multiple levels, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio held calls with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Hindu nationalist Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish those responsible and Jaishankar has told Rubio that the perpetrators should be brought to justice. Pakistan says military action by India was imminent. After the attack, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty, and both countries closed airspace to each other’s airlines. They also exchanged fire across their border.
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