Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, US Vice President JD Vance has called for calm but made it clear that any conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors is not America’s battle to fight.
In an interview on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum, Vance stated, “We want this situation to cool down as soon as possible. But the reality is, we can’t control these countries. Our role is limited to encouraging de-escalation — we’re not going to get involved in a war that doesn’t concern us and is beyond our control.”
India remains a key partner for the US, especially in countering China’s influence, while Pakistan, though less central to US foreign policy since the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, is still a recognized ally.
Experts say Washington’s heavy diplomatic engagement in Ukraine and Gaza may limit its ability to press India and Pakistan directly in the early days of this crisis.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that further retaliation was “increasingly certain” following two days of intense cross-border clashes that have left nearly 50 dead. The flare-up began on May 7 when an Indian attack reportedly killed 31 Pakistani civilians. Pakistan retaliated by downing five Indian jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones.
India, on its part, claims it was targeting terrorist hideouts in Pakistan in response to an April 22 militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which Islamabad has denied, calling for an independent investigation.
Vance emphasized the global stakes, saying, “We hope and expect this won’t spiral into a wider regional war, or worse, a nuclear conflict.”
The US has been in frequent contact with both nations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking directly to leaders on Thursday to urge restraint and open dialogue. President Trump also weighed in, calling the rising tensions “a shame” and urging both sides to step back from the brink.
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