Rajnath Singh Speaks to US Counterpart Pete Hegseth Amid Rising Tensions With Pakistan

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday contacted his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth, news agency PTI reported. The call has come along with rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead.

“The US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke to Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh earlier today and expressed his deepest sympathies for the tragic loss of innocent civilians in the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir,” Rajnath Singh's office said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Secretary Hegseth said that the US stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself. He reiterated the strong support of the US government in India's fight against terrorism,” the statement added.

Also Read: Khalistani Separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Posts Controversial Video After Pahalgam Attack

What was discussed on the call

On Thursday, the U.S. reiterated its support for India's right of self-defense and its fight against terrorism.

Singh further told Hegseth that Pakistan stands "exposed" as a "rogue" state that fuels global terrorism and "destabilizes" the region.

According to an official readout of the conversation, the Defense Minister stated that "the world cannot turn a blind eye to terrorism anymore."

"He reiterated the strong support of the US government in India's fight against terrorism," it said.

According to Singh's office on social media, Hegseth reaffirmed that the U.S. stands in solidarity with India and supports India's right to self-defense.

Also Read: ‘India, Pakistan Getting Ready for War’: Farooq Abdullah Calls for Solution After Pahalgam Terror Attack

In the meantime, the Pakistani military continues its buildup along the borders with India, where it has deployed air defense and artillery units to forward locations.

Sources in defense said on Wednesday that the Directors General of Military Operations from both India and Pakistan held a hotline conversation on Tuesday to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violations committed by Pakistan. They stated that India cautioned Pakistan against the unprovoked ceasefire violations committed by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LOC) and the International Border.

The Indian Army's prompt and strong response on the occasion of unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army across the Line of Control (LoC). The Army assumed rapid action onto the ceasefire violations that happened between the night of April 27 and 28 in parts originally opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), officials said.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke on the phone with the US counterpart, Marco Rubio, on the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Wednesday.

Jaishankar said that the attackers, supporters, and planners of the attack should be brought to justice."Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice," Jaishankar posted on X.

Also Read: ‘Don’t Target Muslims or Kashmiris’: Navy Officer Vinay Narwal’s Widow Appeals After Pahalgam Attack