What happened?
Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 that killed 26 people, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate phone calls with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Rubio urged both countries to de-escalate tensions, reaffirmed US cooperation with India against terrorism, and pressed Pakistan to condemn the attack and cooperate with the investigation. Since the attack, tensions have increased, leading India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, close the Attari border, and block some Pakistani celebrity Instagram accounts, while Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights and suspended the Simla Agreement.
Why it matters to India
The US engagement underscores international concern regarding regional stability and acknowledges India’s concerns about cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan. The call reaffirms US support for India’s counter-terrorism efforts. The situation highlights the persistent security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir and the complexities of India-Pakistan relations, particularly after terror incidents. India’s leadership has asserted that the Indian Armed Forces have “complete operational freedom” to respond to the Pahalgam attack, indicating a firm stance.