WASHINGTON, 2 May (Alliance News): United States Vice President JD Vance has expressed hope that India’s response to the recent attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) will not escalate into a broader regional conflict.
In an interview with a foreign news agency, Vice President Vance said, “We hope that India will respond to this terrorist attack in a way that does not lead to a wider regional conflict.”
He further urged Pakistan to act responsibly. “We also hope that Pakistan will cooperate with India to the extent it is responsible to ensure that terrorists who occasionally operate from their soil are hunted down and dealt with,” he added.
The remarks come in the wake of the April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of IIOJK, where at least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. It was one of the deadliest incidents in the region since 2000.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated since the attack, with India blaming Pakistan—an allegation Islamabad has categorically denied. Pakistan has instead called for an impartial and transparent international investigation.
The United States has consistently urged both nations to exercise restraint. The State Department confirmed that it is engaged with both governments at various levels to encourage dialogue and de-escalation.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the ongoing situation and emphasize the importance of peace and regional stability.
