US spokesperson snubs Pakistan journalist over question on India-Pak border tensions
The US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce deflected questions about India-Pakistan border tensions following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives on April 22.
During Thursday’s press briefing, Bruce declined to comment directly on border tensions, referring instead to previous statements made by senior US officials.
“I am not going to be remarking on it. I appreciate this, and perhaps, we will come back to you with another subject. I will say nothing more on that situation. The President and the Secretary have said things, as have the deputy secretary; they have made their positions clear. I will not continue with something of that manner,” Bruce said.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama incident, prompted strong responses from US leadership. Bruce emphasized that “the United States stands with India and strongly condemns all acts of terrorism,” echoing statements from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
President Trump personally called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express condolences and offer full support in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Vice President JD Vance also reached out to PM Modi, reiterating US solidarity with India and offering assistance in counterterrorism efforts.
In a swift response, India has taken multiple diplomatic and security steps. After a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by PM Modi, India declared Pakistani defence advisors in New Delhi as Persona Non Grata and withdrew its own from Islamabad. Both countries will also reduce their High Commission staff by nearly half by 1 May.
Other measures from India include closing the Attari Integrated Check Post, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and cancelling visa exemptions for Pakistani nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. Pakistani nationals in India under SVES visas have been given 48 hours to leave.
