External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a discussion with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday regarding the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, stressing the need for accountability. He underscored that those responsible for the attack, including its perpetrators, supporters, and planners, must be brought to justice. In response, Rubio reiterated the US position that India and Pakistan should work together to reduce tensions and maintain peace in the South Asian region.
Jaishankar shared the details of their conversation on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He posted, “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.”
Marco Rubio expressed condolences for those who lost their lives in the tragic incident. According to US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today. The Secretary expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia.”
The US government is actively engaging with both India and Pakistan in efforts to prevent further escalation. Bruce stated that the US has reached out to both countries urging them not to worsen the situation. “Every day action is being taken. In this case, the Secretary speaking directly to his counterparts in India and Pakistan… We expect… the impact he has usually had with the individuals he has spoken with, and certainly with President Trump’s leadership, India and Pakistan having those conversations. It’s very important for them,” she said during a press briefing.
This latest appeal for restraint is part of a broader pattern of US diplomatic efforts to reduce Indo-Pakistani tensions following terrorist incidents. Such calls have been made in past crises as well. For example, in the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reached out to the late Sushma Swaraj, India’s External Affairs Minister at the time, with a similar message. He had urged both nations to exercise restraint and focus on reducing hostilities.
Similarly, after the 2016 Uri terrorist attack, John Kerry, who was the US Secretary of State during the Obama administration, had also spoken to Swaraj. In that conversation too, the emphasis was on de-escalation and preventing further deterioration of the situation.
Despite these appeals for calm, India has responded with military action in both past cases. Following the Pulwama attack in 2019, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes in Balakot, targeting terrorist camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan. This marked a significant shift in India’s strategic approach and was viewed as a strong message to those sponsoring cross-border terrorism.
Likewise, in 2016, after the Uri attack that resulted in the deaths of 19 Indian soldiers, the Indian Army launched what it described as “surgical strikes” against terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This operation was widely publicized by Indian officials and media as a retaliatory move, demonstrating a departure from India’s previously restrained responses.
The most recent attack in Pahalgam has revived global concern about the potential for military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The United States, while expressing solidarity with India over the terrorist incident, has clearly communicated its interest in avoiding another cycle of conflict. This approach underscores Washington’s ongoing diplomatic balancing act between supporting India’s security concerns and maintaining regional stability.
Even though the US condemned the Pahalgam attack and affirmed its commitment to fighting terrorism in partnership with India, its concurrent appeal for dialogue with Pakistan is a familiar feature of its South Asia policy. American officials have often walked a tightrope, expressing support for India’s right to self-defense while advocating bilateral talks to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Bruce’s statement highlighted the urgency of high-level communication, noting that Secretary Rubio’s direct conversations with both Indian and Pakistani officials were part of a broader strategy to contain the fallout. “We expect… the impact he has usually had with the individuals he has spoken with,” she said, reflecting the confidence the US places in its diplomatic engagements in the region.
These developments come at a time when relations between India and Pakistan remain severely strained, with little formal diplomatic engagement taking place. The legacy of previous terrorist attacks, coupled with India’s assertive military posture in recent years, has only hardened positions on both sides.
India has repeatedly emphasized that it expects firm action against terrorism from across the border and has often dismissed third-party mediation efforts, preferring a bilateral framework that it argues must be free of cross-border violence. Pakistan, on the other hand, has continued to raise the Kashmir issue in international forums and has called for dialogue, although India has maintained that such talks can only resume once terrorism ceases.
In the case of the Pahalgam attack, the exact details of the group or individuals responsible have not yet been made public. However, India’s call for justice reflects a consistent stance that accountability and deterrence must go hand in hand in dealing with terrorism. Jaishankar’s firm message to Rubio, emphasizing the need to punish those behind the attack, reinforces this position.
“Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice,” Jaishankar reiterated in his post on X, echoing India’s unambiguous stance on the issue.
The US, for its part, appears to be focusing on ensuring that the situation does not evolve into a wider conflict. Its repeated calls for restraint, appeals to historical precedent, and diplomatic outreach to both sides reflect its deep interest in regional stability and counterterrorism cooperation. While the sympathy extended to India is evident, so is the emphasis on engagement and dialogue as a means of crisis management.
Despite the recurring nature of these terror-related flashpoints, the challenge of ensuring long-term peace in South Asia remains unresolved. Washington’s cautious optimism, expressed through Secretary Rubio’s outreach and Bruce’s public statements, suggests that the US continues to view direct communication between India and Pakistan as essential—even if past efforts have had limited success.
As tensions remain high following the Pahalgam incident, the international community, particularly the United States, will likely continue playing a mediating role, even as India sticks to its demand for justice and Pakistan calls for dialogue. Whether these parallel positions can converge in a constructive manner remains to be seen.