India-US Defense Talks Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan

New Delhi: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a phone call with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Thursday, addressing heightened tensions with Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The discussion focused on the security situation in the region, particularly in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

The Pahalgam incident, described as one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region in decades, has significantly strained India-Pakistan relations. Sources indicate that the attack was orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorist groups, prompting India to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and downgrade diplomatic ties with Islamabad. In response, Pakistan has placed its military on high alert and labeled India’s actions as provocative.

Singh and Hegseth discussed potential cooperative measures to address the evolving security challenges. The conversation occurred shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, signaling Washington’s engagement with both nations to urge de-escalation. The US State Department has publicly condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for a responsible resolution to the crisis.

Tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) have escalated, with reports of ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces. India’s armed forces have been granted operational flexibility to counter the threat, as confirmed by high-level meetings involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top defense officials. Meanwhile, international calls for restraint, including from the United Nations, have underscored the need to avoid further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.