US Urges India and Pakistan to Seek Responsible Path Amid Rising Tensions Over Kashmir Attack
The United States confirmed on Sunday that it is maintaining communication with both India and Pakistan, encouraging both sides to pursue a “responsible solution” following heightened tensions after a deadly assault in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead—mostly tourists—is considered one of the deadliest incidents in the region since 2000. A little-known group, The Resistance Front (TRF), allegedly claimed responsibility for the assault.
India has hinted at cross-border involvement without presenting evidence, while Pakistan has firmly rejected any role in the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an independent, neutral investigation into the incident.
“This situation is still evolving, and we are closely monitoring the developments,” a US State Department spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters, adding that Washington is in contact with both governments at various levels.
The spokesperson stressed, “The United States encourages all parties to work collaboratively towards a responsible resolution.”
Additionally, the US condemned the Pahalgam attack and voiced its solidarity with India, echoing similar sentiments expressed earlier by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
While the US has openly supported India after the attack, it has refrained from publicly criticizing Pakistan. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Iran have offered to mediate. President Trump, however, expressed confidence that both India and Pakistan could resolve the issue themselves.
Washington’s relationship with India has strengthened as it seeks to counter China’s growing influence in Asia, while ties with Pakistan have become less central after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
South Asia expert Michael Kugelman noted that India has become a far closer ally to Washington than Pakistan. He warned that if India retaliates, the US might sympathize with India’s counterterrorism efforts, offering limited intervention. Kugelman also pointed out that the Trump administration, preoccupied with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, may initially leave India and Pakistan to manage the situation independently.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, remarked that Washington currently has little appetite for active mediation between the two rivals, suggesting that both nations often escalate tensions without direct US involvement.
Ned Price, a former US State Department official, cautioned that while the Trump administration acknowledges the sensitivity of the situation, an overt bias toward India could risk further escalation.
Price added, “If India believes the Trump administration will offer unconditional support, it might embolden more aggressive actions, heightening the risk of conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.”
Border Skirmishes and Rising Hostilities
Tensions further escalated as India and Pakistan exchanged gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC) for a fourth consecutive night, breaking a four-year period of relative calm.
India’s military accused Pakistani forces of initiating “unprovoked” fire, though no casualties were reported. Pakistan has yet to comment.
India has conducted several military exercises since the Pahalgam attack, some of which were routine drills, according to a defense official.
In response to the rising tensions, India announced the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, a significant water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank. Pakistan retaliated the following day, warning it could suspend the Simla Agreement and block Indian flights from its airspace. Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) also urged India to avoid politicizing the Pahalgam attack.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed harsh punishment for the attackers, promising they would be pursued “to the ends of the earth.” Calls for military action against Pakistan have intensified among Indian politicians and the public.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad was willing to cooperate in an international investigation but warned that any Indian aggression could lead to “all-out war.”
The United Nations has appealed for maximum restraint from both sides, emphasizing that disputes should be resolved peacefully through meaningful dialogue.
Crackdown in Kashmir and Rising Concerns
In the aftermath of the attack, Indian security forces have detained around 500 individuals during extensive search operations involving over 1,000 homes and forests in Kashmir. At least nine homes have reportedly been demolished.
Kashmir Media Service reported even higher numbers, suggesting that more than 2,000 people had been arrested and that several ancestral homes were destroyed with explosives, actions critics have condemned as collective punishment.
Political leaders in the region urged caution, warning that harming innocent civilians could worsen alienation and drive further unrest.
“It’s crucial to punish the guilty without harming innocent people,” said Omar Abdullah, the region’s chief minister, on X (formerly Twitter). Another former chief minister echoed these concerns, warning that alienation only serves the interests of extremist groups seeking to divide communities.
