WASHINGTON – International support continues to pour in for India in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed numerous innocent lives and escalated tensions in South Asia. Key global leaders and diplomats have expressed solidarity with New Delhi while urging India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and prevent further regional destabilization.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s position in a statement on social media, saying, “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with Secretary Rubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers, and planners must be brought to justice.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth added his voice of support, stating, “Today, I spoke with Indian Defense Minister Singh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week. I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance addressed the situation in an interview with Fox News, calling for both accountability and caution. “Our expectation is that India will respond to this terrorist attack in a manner that does not lead to a broader regional conflict. And we expect that Pakistan, to the extent they are responsible, will cooperate with India to ensure that terrorists who sometimes operate on their territory are detected and dealt with,” Vance said.
In Washington, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, underscored his nation’s solidarity with India during remarks at the Atlantic Council. “President Macron has been in touch with Prime Minister Modi. I’ve spoken twice with Dr. Jaishankar. We stand alongside India in the fight against terrorism,” Barrot stated.
He also aligned with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call for Pakistan to take a firm stance. “I heard Secretary Rubio call on Pakistan to formally recognize the terrorist nature of this attack and to condemn it in the strongest possible way. I would happily join his call to Pakistan to recognize the terrorist nature of this attack.”
Barrot further emphasized the need for diplomatic coordination among key partners to prevent escalation. “We’ll stay in touch with Marco Rubio, David Lammy from the UK, and my Indian counterpart to ensure efforts are made to avoid further conflict in the region.”
Beyond the immediate crisis, Barrot reiterated France’s support for structural reform at the United Nations, including backing India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. “Our position is a permanent seat at the Security Council for India, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and two African countries. This is the reform we want to see.”
As India continues to cope with the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the strong expressions of solidarity reflect a growing global consensus: terrorism must be confronted decisively, and justice must be pursued without delay—while ensuring regional stability is preserved.
Poonam Sharma
Poonam is a multi-media journalist, and Founder of Global Strat View. She managed India America Today (IAT) for seven years, and launched its print edition in 2019 with IAT's Founder and Editor, the late Tejinder Singh.
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