Pahalgam Attack LIVE: JD Vance Urges Pakistan’s Cooperation in Terror Probe

Pahalgam Attack LIVE: Pakistan Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) for the eighth consecutive night on Thursday (May 1) by initiating unprovoked firing. Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms firing from posts opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded in a "calibrated and proportionate manner.

As tensions between India and Pakistan simmer in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the United States has walked a diplomatic tightrope, trying to avoid being seen as favouring one side over the other. This, despite a feeling that under Donald Trump 2.0, Pakistan would be put under the pump over its support for terrorism.

While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance have urged de-escalation of tensions, others like Tulsi Gabbard have backed India's attempt to "hunt down" those responsible for the attack, which left 26 dead.

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This comes amid a series of actions by both India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 civilians.

The U.S. Secretary of Defence @PeteHegseth spoke to Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh earlier today and expressed his deepest sympathies for the tragic loss of innocent civilians in the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

Secretary Hegseth said that the U.S.…

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 1, 2025

“Secretary Hegseth said the U.S. stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself. He reiterated the strong support of the U.S. government in India’s fight against terrorism,” Mr. Singh’s office said in a post on social media ‘X’. During the conversation, Mr. Singh said that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training, and funding terrorist organisations. He further said that it is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out such heinous acts of terrorism,” the post added.

On the sidelines, US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that he hopes India will respond to Pakistan over the terror attack in a way that would avoid a "broader regional conflict".

"Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict," Vance said in an interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" show.

"And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they're responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with," Vance added.

Also Read: 'PM Modi Has Our Full Support’: US Issues Strong Statement on Terrorism After Pahalgam Attack

Vance's comments are the most direct link made by a US official since the April 22 attack that left 26 people dead, possibly suggesting Pakistan's involvement in terrorist activities in India.

The US vice president had reacted earlier to the Pahalgam attack. In a post on X, he had said, "Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack."

The Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed, was among the most deadly terrorist attacks on civilians in the Kashmir Valley in recent years. The attackers had targeted a scenic meadow that could only be reached by hiking or using a pony service.

Other senior US officials, including President Donald Trump, have also reacted to the attack. They called it "terror" and "unconscionable" and expressed support for India, but did not mention Pakistan.

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