- JD Vance emphasizes the need for de-escalation between India and Pakistan.
- He states, “we can’t control these countries.”
- Recent discussions have been held with both nations.
WASHINGTON: On Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance expressed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan but stressed that the US cannot dictate actions to these nuclear-capable nations. He remarked that a conflict between them would be “none of our business.”
“We want to see quick de-escalation. However, we can’t control these countries,” Vance stated during an interview on Fox News‘ “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”
“Our role is to encourage dialogue and de-escalation, but we won’t intervene in a conflict that doesn’t involve our interests or have anything to do with our ability to manage it,” he added.
India remains a key ally for the US as they work to counter China’s growing influence, whereas Pakistan, although still considered a US ally, has diminished importance following the US exit from Afghanistan in 2021.
Some analysts and former officials suggest that the focus on diplomacy regarding Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and Israel’s situation in Gaza may lead the US to prioritize these issues over stability in India and Pakistan during their current tensions.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that retaliation was “increasingly certain,” as major clashes continued for a second day, resulting in nearly four dozen deaths.
The renewed escalation in the long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan began on May 7, when an unprovoked Indian cross-border attack killed at least 31 civilians. In response, Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets including three Rafales and several drones.
India asserted that it targeted terrorist hideouts within Pakistan, citing an April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 individuals, a move that New Delhi blames on Islamabad, which has denied the allegations and called for an impartial investigation.
“We hope and expect that this will not escalate into a larger regional conflict or, worse, a nuclear war,” Vance stated on Thursday.
In recent days, the US has maintained regular dialogue with both countries, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s calls with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India’s foreign minister, where both were urged to engage in direct conversation to ease tensions.
US President Donald Trump described the rising tensions as regrettable. On Wednesday, he expressed hope that the two countries would refrain from further escalation after their back-and-forth actions. The State Department called on both nations to pursue what Washington considers a “responsible solution.”
