New Delhi:
In a call with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent out a strong message of solidarity after the Pahalgam terror attack and said that the US supports “India’s right to defend itself”.
The US Secretary of Defence “expressed condolences for the loss of lives and solidarity with India in the wake of the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.”
Mr Hegseth “reiterated full support of the US government in India’s fight against terrorism.” He said that the US stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself.
Mr Singh told Mr Hegseth that “Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations. Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye to terrorism.” “It is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out such heinous acts of terrorism,” Mr Singh added.
It comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s repeated ceasefire violations along the Line of Control for the seventh consecutive night. The unprovoked firing took place in the Kupwara, Uri and the Akhnoor sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, Dr Jaishankar informed that he spoke to Mr Rubio, who “reaffirmed the US’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism.” Dr Jaishankar, in his conversation with Mr Rubio, cited the “cross-border linkages” between the Pahalgam terror and Pakistan. However, Mr Rubio “encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia.”
Tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) have escalated following repeated violations by Pakistan. Yesterday, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries held talks over the violations, with India warning Pakistan against the firing. Though the conversation between DGMOs is a regular affair but it was the conversation that happened following the firing along LoC.
In 2003, India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control, to which both sides reaffirmed their commitment in February 2021, along the 740-km-long boundary that separates the militaries of the two countries.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a key meeting to review India’s security preparedness after the attack, the second such meeting after the Pahalgam attack. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) comprised the Defence Minister, Finance Minister, External Affairs Minister and Home Minister.
After the CCS meeting, another meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) began to discuss the Opposition’s request for a special session of parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack.
Top government sources told The Hindkesharithat the Prime Minister has given “complete operational freedom to the forces to decide on the mode, targets and timing of response”. The Prime Minister underlined that it is “our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism”, the sources added.
The tensions are not limited to military actions but also include diplomatic measures taken by India against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. New Delhi put the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance, closed the Attari border, revoked regular and medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals, and yesterday shut the airspace for all Pakistan-owned and operated airlines.
Pakistan, in a tit-for-tat move, said it would put the Simla Agreement of 1972 in abeyance, putting the future of the LoC, which was established after the agreement, in limbo. Pakistan rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any move to stop the flow of water will be seen as an “act of war”.