US Vice President JD Vance expressed strong and unequivocal support for India’s stance against terrorism during a meeting with an Indian all-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, a member of the delegation, described the interaction as a “fantastic meeting” that further solidified the strategic bond between the two democracies.
Tejasvi Surya stated that Vice President Vance fully endorsed India’s right to defend itself after the Pahalgam terror attack and lauded India’s “responsible restraint” despite repeated provocations from Pakistan. Vance, who was in India when the April 22 terror attack occurred, recalled witnessing the emotional response of the Indian people firsthand.
“He was very clear that India exercised its right to deter further terrorist attacks and expressed complete support for the Government of India. He appreciated the maturity and resolve shown by India both militarily and diplomatically,” Surya told ANI.
Vance also reportedly expressed enthusiasm about strengthening India–US trade ties and praised India’s rapid transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Surya noted that Vance repeatedly referenced his personal rapport with Modi and called India a natural partner for the United States in the years ahead.
The delegation, which includes MPs from across India’s political spectrum—such as Shambhavi Chaudhary (LJP), Sarfaraz Ahmed (JMM), GM Harish Balayogi (TDP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), and former US Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu—was visiting Washington as part of a broader diplomatic initiative following the launch of Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor was initiated in response to the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians. India has since launched counter-terror strikes targeting infrastructure operated by groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
During their Washington visit, the Indian delegation also met with leaders of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), and interacted with key U.S. lawmakers, including HFAC Chair Brian Mast, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Rep. Gregory Meeks. They also engaged with the Indian diaspora.
Shashi Tharoor described the meeting with Vice President Vance as a “constructive and productive exchange,” underscoring the importance of strengthening counter-terror cooperation and advancing technological partnerships.
“The conversation covered a wide array of critical issues—from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. A truly productive exchange to deepen India-US strategic ties,” Tharoor said in a post on X.
The visit marks a key milestone in India’s diplomatic outreach to rally global support against terrorism and strengthen its geopolitical alliances.
