NEW DELHI: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh conducted discussions with US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, on Thursday, as confirmed by defence ministry officials.
The dialogue occurred amid escalating tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 casualties.
This comes after India’s and Pakistan’s directors general of military operations engaged in hotline communications on Tuesday regarding Pakistan’s unprovoked ceasefire breaches. Defence sources, quoted by ANI reported on Wednesday that India cautioned Pakistan about these violations along the Line of Control (LOC) and International Border.
The Indian Army provided an effective response to Pakistan Army’s unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control (LoC) during April 27-28 in regions opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), according to officials.
On Wednesday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar also conversed with US counterpart Marco Rubio, addressing the terrorist attack.
Jaishankar emphasised the necessity for justice saying, “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.”
Rubio reaffirmed US commitment to anti-terrorism cooperation with India. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that Rubio expressed condolences for lives lost in the “horrific terrorist attack” in Pahalgam, whilst encouraging Indo-Pakistan dialogue to reduce tensions.
The bilateral discussions occurred as Pakistani ceasefire violations increased along the LoC following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. India has implemented several measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty, closing the Attari Integrated Check Post, and reducing High Commission staff numbers.
On April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan, service chiefs, and NSA Ajit Doval.
This followed a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on April 23 post-Pahalgam attack. Reports revealed PM Modi granting Indian Armed Forces full operational autonomy regarding response methods, targets, and timing. The Tuesday meeting included Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
