WASHINGTON: In a significant diplomatic development, the United States has clearly asked India to uphold regional peace and stability amid escalating tensions in South Asia.
This message was conveyed during a high-level meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington.
According to sources, the U.S. expressed serious concern over India’s recent aggressive posture, especially following the May 6 incident in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India had accused Pakistan of involvement in the killing of tourists, a claim Islamabad strongly rejected as baseless and provocative.
In response to what it called unprovoked Indian aggression, Pakistan exercised its right to self-defense. Pakistani forces shot down five Indian aircraft, including four Rafale jets and a drone, and destroyed the S-400 air defense system. Several Indian military installations involved in launching missile attacks on Pakistani civilians were also targeted.
Following these developments, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was established between the two nuclear-armed neighbors — a truce that remains in effect despite continued inflammatory rhetoric from New Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continued to issue provocative statements, including a recent remark: “Eat Pakistani bread, or face my bullets.” This has drawn further concern from the international community.
Foreign Secretary Misri is currently on a three-day official visit to the United States, which began on May 27. On Wednesday evening, he met with Deputy Secretary Landau in Washington. U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the meeting and reiterated America’s commitment to its close partnership with India.
However, sources indicate that the U.S. firmly reminded India to avoid any form of aggression and to ensure regional stability. In addition, Washington called on New Delhi to improve transparency in market access and strengthen cooperation in areas such as migration and counter-narcotics.
In a notable diplomatic victory for Pakistan, the official U.S. State Department statement released after the meeting did not mention Pakistan at all — a point being seen as a recognition of Pakistan’s responsible and peace-promoting stance in the crisis.
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