US Stands In Solidarity With India, Supports The Right To Defend Itself: Pete Hegseth

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a phone conversation on Thursday, during which the Pahalgam terror attack was discussed. The April 22 attack claimed 26 lives, mostly Indian tourists and one Nepali national.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Hegseth conveyed deep condolences on behalf of the US for the loss of innocent lives in what he called a “dastardly” terrorist act in Jammu and Kashmir.

India Calls Out Pakistan’s Terror Links

Rajnath Singh told Hegseth that Pakistan continues to support, train, and fund terrorist organisations. “Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region,” Singh said. He urged the global community to “explicitly and unequivocally condemn” such heinous acts.

The US Secretary of Defense reaffirmed full support for India’s fight against terrorism and said the US stands in solidarity with India and supports its right to defend itself.

Since the Pahalgam attack, the Indian Army has launched an intensive anti-terror operation in the region.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated along the Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistani troops opened unprovoked fire during the night of April 30 and May 1 in Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani army used small arms in the aggression.

According to an official, the Indian Army gave an appropriate response to the firing.

The attack in Pahalgam has intensified calls for international action against cross-border terrorism and those who sponsor it.

Also Read: EAM Jaishankar, US Secretary Marco Rubio Discuss Pahalgam Terror Attack; Call For Justice & De-Escalation