New Delhi– India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Thursday that he discussed the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and emphasized the need to bring those responsible to justice. The conversation comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly assault that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley.
In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.”
The remarks followed Secretary Rubio’s separate conversations on Wednesday with both Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Rubio reportedly called for de-escalation and encouraged both countries to work toward maintaining regional peace and security.
“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,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Rubio also pressed Pakistani officials to cooperate in investigating what he described as an “unconscionable” act of terrorism, and urged both nations to restore direct communication channels and reduce tensions along the border.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack, intensifying accusations from New Delhi that Islamabad continues to support cross-border terrorism.
The situation along the Line of Control (LoC) has remained volatile. For the seventh consecutive day, the Pakistani Army has resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC, according to Indian defense officials. Overnight on April 30 and into May 1, Pakistani forces reportedly opened small-arms fire on Indian positions in Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Indian forces responded proportionately,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said, noting that similar incidents have occurred throughout the past week, including firing by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border in Jammu’s Pargwal sector.
As diplomatic and military tensions continue to rise, both sides face mounting international pressure to de-escalate. Meanwhile, India has made clear that it expects accountability for the attack and stronger global action against state-backed terrorism. (Source: IANS)
