US House Speaker Mike Johnson has affirmed America’s strong support for India’s efforts against terrorism, describing the country as a “very important partner” and pledging that the United States will do everything possible to assist.
Speaking at a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill on Monday, Johnson reiterated the importance of the US-India partnership, expressing confidence in the outcome of ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.
“We have great sympathy for what’s happening over there, and we want to stand with our allies,” Johnson said when asked about the threat of cross-border terrorism India has faced for decades. “India is a critically important partner to us. We’ll do everything we can in the US to support their efforts against terrorism. This is an essential part of our developing relationship.”
He further noted that the Trump administration understands both the importance of US-India ties and the need to counter the growing threat of terrorism. “If that threat increases, I believe you’ll see the administration focus more energy, resources, and time to assist,” he added.
Johnson’s remarks follow a spate of diplomatic outreach by senior US officials in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people. On April 30, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, expressing sorrow for the victims and reaffirming America’s commitment to cooperation with India on counterterrorism.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement that Rubio also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to “de-escalate tensions” and ensure regional stability.
Earlier, on April 23, US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering condolences and condemning the “heinous” attack. In a post shared by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Trump expressed full support to India in its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a message on X (formerly Twitter).
