In the wake of the deadliest terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, senior U.S. officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and President Donald Trump, have extended their condolences and pledged solidarity with India. The attack, which took place in Pahalgam earlier this week, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists.
The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the massacre.
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Tulsi Gabbard: “We stand in solidarity with India”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence and a former U.S. Congresswoman, expressed firm support for India.
“We stand in solidarity with India in the wake of the horrific Islamist terrorist attack, targeting and killing 26 Hindus in Pahalgam,” Gabbard wrote.
“My prayers and deepest sympathies are with those who lost a loved one, PM @narendramodi, and with all the people of India. We are with you and support you as you hunt down those responsible for this heinous attack,” she added.
Gabbard, known for her strong views on terrorism and international security, emphasized that such acts must not go unanswered.
President Trump conveys full support to PM Modi
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump personally conveyed his condolences and unwavering support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a phone call, strongly denouncing the attack.
The White House said Trump assured Modi of full cooperation in efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, referring to the incident as a “heinous attack” on innocent lives.
State Department reiterates condemnation and support
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, echoed the President’s sentiments during a press briefing on Thursday.
“As President Trump and Secretary [of State] Marco Rubio have made clear, the United States stands with India and strongly condemns all acts of terrorism,” Bruce said.
“We pray for the lives of those lost and for the recovery of the injured and call for the perpetrators of this heinous act to be brought to justice.”
When asked whether Washington views Pakistan as playing a role in the attack or is involved in any de-escalation efforts between India and Pakistan, Bruce declined to elaborate.
“What I can tell you is, of course, as we all know, it’s a rapidly changing situation, and we are monitoring it closely… We are not now taking a position on the status of Kashmir or of Jammu either,” she said.
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U.S. lawmakers express outrage and solidarity
Support for India extended across the political aisle in the U.S. Congress, with several lawmakers issuing statements condemning the violence.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, nominated by President Trump as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called the attack a “horrific mass terror” incident and emphasized unwavering American support.
“The United States stands unequivocally with India in the face of terrorism,” Stefanik said. “We mourn the innocent lives lost and pray for the swift recovery of those injured.”
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who recently set a record for the longest speech in Senate history, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the killings.
“There is no place for this kind of abhorrent violence. I offer my condolences to those grieving this tragic loss and pray that those injured recover quickly,” Booker said.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut echoed the sentiment, urging for justice and cautioning against potential escalation in ethnic tensions.
“These unjustified acts of violence against innocent civilians are abhorrent. I urge the relevant authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice and guard against a rise in ethnic tensions that could spiral into more violence,” Murphy said.
A moment of reckoning
The Pahalgam attack has drawn swift and firm responses from global leaders, placing renewed attention on the fragile security landscape of Kashmir and the broader implications for regional stability. As India initiates a manhunt for the assailants, U.S. voices across government continue to assert that the global fight against terrorism requires solidarity and swift justice.
