Amid ongoing global security concerns and shifting geopolitical balances, the United States has once again underlined its commitment to India’s fight against terrorism, while simultaneously stressing the importance of its relationship with Pakistan. The nuanced messaging comes after high-level diplomatic engagements in Washington, where top US officials met delegations from both India and Pakistan to discuss regional security and counterterrorism cooperation, especially following the developments around Operation Sindoor.

Support to India on Terrorism

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with a visiting Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. During this meeting, Landau reaffirmed the US’s “strong support” for India in its ongoing battle against terrorism and lauded the strategic partnership between the two countries. The interaction was seen as part of India’s broader diplomatic push following Operation Sindoor to shore up global consensus on the threat of terrorism and its cross-border dimensions.

Pakistan’s Role in Combating IS-KP

However, in a testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee, General Michael Kurilla, chief of the US Central Command, highlighted the crucial role played by the Pakistani military—particularly Army chief General Asim Munir—in countering threats from the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP). Michael Kurilla called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in certain counter-terror operations, citing the arrest and extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah, the planner behind the deadly 2021 Abbey Gate suicide attack in Kabul, as evidence of its value to global security efforts.

Michael Kurilla argued that it was vital for the US to maintain strategic relations with both India and Pakistan, rejecting the idea of a binary approach where one relationship excludes the other. “We should look at the merits of each relationship and what positives they bring,” he stated, advocating a balanced view on South Asian diplomacy.

Meanwhile, a separate Pakistani parliamentary delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also visited Washington and held talks with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. Discussions included counterterrorism cooperation and the ongoing ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border. While Bruce did not reveal specifics, she confirmed that these meetings touched on bilateral priorities and regional stability.

The US also reiterated its longstanding position that on-ground hostilities between India and Pakistan must cease, and that dialogue should be bilateral, in line with India’s stated policy rejecting third-party mediation on Kashmir.

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