United States Vice President JD Vance has expressed deep concern over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, urging both India and Pakistan to avoid a wider regional conflict.
The comments came during his interview with Fox News, shortly after completing his first official visit to India from April 21 to 24 — a trip that coincided with the day of the deadly attack.
Speaking about the rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Vance stated, “Sure, I am worried any time you see a hotspot breaking out, especially between two nuclear powers. We have obviously been in close contact with our friends in India and Pakistan.”
He further appealed for a balanced response from India and responsible action from Pakistan. “Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” he said. “And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to ensure that terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.”
Vance’s remarks reflect growing international concern over cross-border terrorism and the potential for escalation following the Pahalgam incident, which targeted mostly tourists and has been widely condemned.