U.S. lawmakers across party lines have extended strong support to India’s right to respond to terrorism, during a high-level interaction with the all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Washington, D.C. The meeting was part of India’s diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian delegation met with key members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), including Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Congressman Bill Huizenga.
HFAC Chairman Brian Mast underscored America’s bipartisan unity on the issue, stating, “We are proud to receive our friend and ally India. Every one of us strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place. When you are attacked, you have no choice but to respond. The world expects it. Our friendship and partnership with India will only grow.”
Congressman Bill Huizenga also condemned the Pahalgam attack and emphasized joint efforts to combat terrorism globally. “That is something we need to work on together — to ensure terrorists cannot strike anywhere,” he said.
Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove welcomed the ceasefire following the military escalation and stressed the importance of sustaining the strong U.S.-India partnership. She also raised key bilateral concerns related to visa access for international events and strengthening ties in tech and entertainment sectors.
Ranking Member Gregory Meeks highlighted the shared democratic values between India and the U.S. “We are bound by our values. We cannot tolerate terrorism anywhere and fully support India’s right to defend itself. Whether it’s the QUAD, trade, or the global response to Ukraine and Russia, India has been a vital partner,” Meeks said.
Shashi Tharoor, representing India’s all-party delegation, expressed gratitude for the U.S. lawmakers’ “strong and unconditional” support. “There was complete unanimity in condemning the terrorist attacks and supporting India’s right to defend itself. We also discussed broader bilateral issues — trade, economy, student visas — and the mutual desire to strengthen this relationship across all sectors,” Tharoor noted.
The delegation’s U.S. visit follows earlier stops in Brazil and Europe and aims to consolidate global support against terrorism and reinforce India’s strategic priorities following Operation Sindoor, which was launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
