- Friday, April 25, 2025
Bruce said the United States wants the perpetrators of the “heinous” Pahalgam terror attack be brought to justice and condemns all forms of terrorism
By: India Weekly
US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce has said the Trump administration stands with India on fighting terror, but sidestepped queries related to tensions between India and Pakistan.
Bruce said the United States wants the perpetrators of the “heinous” Pahalgam terror attack to be brought to justice.
“As President (Donald) Trump and Secretary (Marco) Rubio have made clear, the United States stands with India, strongly condemns all acts of terrorism,” she said on Thursday.
Twenty-six people were killed on Tuesday (22) when terrorists opened fire at an open meadow in Baisaran in Pahalgam. Most of those killed were tourists who had come from various parts of India.
Responding to a question on whether the US sees Pakistan as potentially being behind the attack and whether Washington was trying to de-escalate tensions between the two countries, Bruce said refused to comment.
“What I can tell you is, of course, as we all know, it’s a rapidly changing situation and we are monitoring it closely, as you might imagine. And we, of course, are not now taking a position on the status of Kashmir or of Jammu either, so that’s really going to be the extent of what I can say today.”
When asked by a Pakistani journalist if Trump had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan in his first term, she said, “I’m not going to be remarking… as I mentioned.”
President Trump had called prime minister Narendra Modi to offer condolences for the victims of the terror attack.
After the attack, India announced punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrading diplomatic ties.
India on Thursday (25) announced revoking of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals from April 27 and advised Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest.
In retaliation, Pakistan on Thursday put the Simla Agreement and other bilateral accords with India on hold and suspended all trade.
Pakistan also closed its airspace for Indian airlines and said any attempt to divert the water meant for it under the Indus Water Treaty will be considered an Act of War.
India’s top two airlines, IndiGo and Air India, said that flights to some international destinations, including the United States and Europe, would be affected by the closure of Pakistani airspace, leading to extended flight times and diversions.
UN chief’s call
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to both India and Pakistan governments to exercise maximum restraint and ensure no further deterioration, his spokesperson said.
Guterres is following the situation “very closely and with very great concern”, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing at the United Nations on Thursday (24).
In a statement earlier this week, Guterres had strongly condemned the “armed attack” in Pahalgam and offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
