Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the United States has made clear it will not intervene in a conflict that is “fundamentally none of our business,” US Vice President J D Vance said on Thursday.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance stressed that while the US is concerned whenever nuclear powers are in conflict, Washington’s role is limited to encouraging both sides to de-escalate. “We can't control these countries… what we can do is encourage them to de-escalate a little bit,” he said. He emphasized that America will not get involved militarily and will continue working through diplomatic channels.
Vance quoted President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom urged for tensions to “de-escalate as quickly as possible.” He expressed hope that cooler heads in both countries will prevent a broader regional war or nuclear conflict, which would be disastrous.
Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children were on an official visit to India when terrorists killed 26 people in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22. Two weeks later, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). On Thursday night, India also neutralised Pakistani attempts to strike military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur using drones and missiles.
After India repelled these attacks, its defence ministry reaffirmed that the country is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rubio spoke with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing the need for immediate de-escalation and better communication. He reiterated US condolences for the Pahalgam attack and urged Pakistan to end support for terror groups.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce echoed these sentiments, saying the US message is clear: violence and war are not solutions. “Diplomacy is a solution, new ideas to stop generational violence,” she added. Bruce confirmed that the US remains engaged with both nations at multiple levels to encourage a peaceful resolution.