In a well put statement, the Trump administration on Tuesday described India’s airstrike on the Balakot terrorist training facility as counter-terrorist actions. They further went on to speak of Washington’s security partnership with India and their common goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. They gave a stern warning to Pakistan to de-escalate against terrorist groups operating on its soil.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, is in Hanoi with President Trump for talks with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong UN. He spoke to India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for foreign affairs and told them to exercise restrain. He also added that they must avoid escalation at any cost. He also encouraged both the Minister to prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity.
Pompeo also said that both the countries must avoid military action and encourage communications from both sides. The US statement has been well worded and acknowledged India’s need to take punitive action. This resonates with this 2004 records of the U.S intelligence. Though the statement encouraged dialogue from both sides, it put pressure on Islamabad to take meaningful action against terrorist groups.
The U.S statement came hours after Abdul Ghafoor, Pakistan’s military spokesperson said that it would retaliate. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan also said that they would consider the retaliation but retaliate as well.
Pakistan continues to praise the Jaish-e-Mohammed despite the group taking blame of the Pulwana suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary forces. Pakistani extremists and trolls celebrated their deaths on social media.
Through the last week, Trump administration indicated its support to India. They lauded India’s self-defense strategy against Pakistani terrorist. Their statement had less restraint as compared to the administrations of Obama and Bush.
World opinion except for a few members of Jammu and Kashmir contact group of the OIC has lined up behind New Delhi. This is the aftermath of years of restraint against Pakistan.
