New York, May 9 – As military tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, the United States has firmly stated that it will not get involved in a conflict "that fundamentally has nothing to do with us." US Vice President J.D. Vance made the remark during an interview with Fox News on Thursday, reiterating Washington’s position of neutrality while calling on both nuclear-armed neighbors to de-escalate the situation.
As per agency report, when asked about the risk of a potential nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, Vance acknowledged the concern but emphasized that the US cannot control the actions of sovereign nations. “We are certainly concerned about nuclear powers clashing, but we are not stepping into a war that does not involve us,” he said.
Vance underscored that the administration led by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is monitoring the situation closely and encourages both sides to reduce tensions. “We can appeal for calm, but we cannot dictate actions. India has grievances with Pakistan, and Pakistan has responded. We hope diplomacy prevails,” he stated.
While expressing hope that the conflict does not spiral into a broader regional or nuclear war, Vance added, “We don’t believe that’s imminent right now, but the focus must be on diplomacy and preventing escalation.” He made it clear that the US will not ask either side to disarm and instead will rely on diplomatic channels to pursue peace.
The remarks come amid heightened hostilities following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed—many of them tourists—while Vice President Vance and his family were visiting India on an official trip.
In retaliation, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ late Tuesday night, targeting nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan responded with attempted drone and missile strikes on Indian military sites in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and other locations on Thursday night, which were intercepted and neutralized by Indian forces.
India’s Ministry of Defence reiterated that the armed forces are “fully prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and protect its people.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate conversations with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging both nations to de-escalate immediately.
Rubio reaffirmed America's support for direct dialogue between the two countries during his discussion with Jaishankar and emphasized continued efforts to improve bilateral communication. He also extended condolences over the Pahalgam attack and reiterated the US’s commitment to working with India in the fight against terrorism.
In his conversation with Sharif, Rubio called for concrete steps from Pakistan to end support for terrorist groups operating within its territory.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed at a press briefing that Rubio had emphasized the need to avoid further military action and that violence must cease. “Our message is clear: no more war, no more escalation. We need new thinking and diplomacy to resolve long-standing issues,” Bruce stated.
When asked whether the US had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan, Bruce declined to provide details but confirmed that Washington remains engaged at multiple levels with both governments. She added that the US supports all efforts aimed at holding those responsible for terrorist acts accountable.
Bruce concluded by saying that America’s priority is to prevent the conflict from intensifying and that the focus remains on promoting peace through dialogue, not war.
