What happened?
India and the United States have jointly urged Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for cross-border terrorism, emphasising the need for decisive action against terrorist groups operating from its soil. A joint statement issued after high-level talks on 13 February 2025 reiterated the demand for Pakistan to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11) and the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack. It underscored the urgency of preventing Pakistan-based terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from orchestrating future attacks across borders.
Why it matters to India
The explicit mention of Pakistan in the joint statement reinforces international diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to take concrete action against terror groups. By securing strong backing from the United States, India strengthens its counterterrorism stance and reinforces its long-standing demand for accountability in past attacks. This statement not only calls for justice in specific terror incidents but also signals a larger commitment to ensuring that terror networks operating from Pakistan are dismantled. Moreover, the diplomatic move highlights the deepening counterterrorism cooperation between India and the U.S., reflecting a shared global priority in combating terrorism. It also bolsters India’s efforts to rally other international partners on this issue, enhancing its strategic position in global security frameworks.