JD Vance Reacts to India-Pakistan ‘Hotspot’ Amid Nuclear Tension

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that India should respond carefully to last week’s Islamist militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir to avoid triggering a wider regional conflict.

Why It Matters

Tensions between India and Pakistan have given rise to concerns of a conflict between the two nuclear-armed South Asian nations after an attack on tourists in Kashmir killed 26 people, most of whom were Indian nationals. India accused Pakistan over the attack, but Pakistan has denied any involvement.

Vice President J.D. Vance was in India during the attack in Kashmir, but his trip was part of a previously planned diplomatic mission aimed at strengthening U.S.-India relations. In the aftermath, Vance also reaffirmed U.S. support for India, condemning the attack and emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-India partnership.

JD Vance in India — Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at the Rajasthan International Centre on April 22, 2025 in Jaipur, India.

AFP/Getty Images

What To Know

In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier during Thursday’s episode of Special Report, Vance urged Pakistan to work collaboratively with India to address the threat of extremism.

When asked if he was “worried about India?”, Vance replied, “Well, sure, I’m worried about any time you see a hot spot breaking out, especially between two nuclear powers. We’ve obviously been in close contact with our friends in India and Pakistan.”

“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” the vice president continued. “And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with. “

“That’s how we hope this unfolds. We’re obviously in close contact. We’ll see what happens.”

The Trump administration has placed an emphasis on its ability to bring an end to the conflicts between Israel and Gaza as well as Russia and Ukraine. The deal brokered between Israel and Hamas ultimately collapsed, and President Donald Trump last week voiced frustration at his Russian counterpart’s seeming lack of urgency to agree a peace deal.

Vance touched on this during his interview, saying that the administration continues seeking the “middle ground” between Russia and Ukraine, and that pulling it off would be “one of the great peace deals” of the 21st century.

What People Are Saying

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: “What I call tell you – obviously, we’re also monitoring the developments across the board in that region, and we – as you know, at multiple levels, I have to say – are in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan, not just at the foreign minister level, certainly, but at multiple levels. We, of course, are encouraging all parties to work together for a responsible solution.”

India’s Foreign Minster Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on X: “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.”

Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s broadcasting and information minister, on Wednesday: “Pakistan reiterates that any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively. The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun: “We strongly condemn the attack. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism. We mourn for the lives lost and express sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.”