‘Thoughts and prayers’: On India tour, JD Vance, Usha express condolences over deadly Pahalgam terror attack | India News

NEW DELHI: US Vice President JD Vance, who is on an India tour, condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam which killed 26 people on Tuesday.
“Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack,” JD Vance said in a post on X.
Vance and his family are on a four-day visit to India. The attack comes a day after he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Russia President Vladimir Putin also condemned the attack and said, ” Esteemed Mrs President, Esteemed Mr Prime Minister, Kindly accept the sincere condolences over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, whose victims were civilians — citizens of various countries. This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organisers and perpetrators will face deserved punishment. I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured.”
The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—has claimed responsibility for the assault.
Officials suspect that the attackers may have infiltrated from the Kishtwar region in Jammu and traversed through Kokernag in South Kashmir to reach the remote tourist destination, indicating a possible cross-regional militant movement and raising fresh alarms over security along infiltration routes.
Union home minister Amit Shah held high level talks with J&K CM Omar Abdullah and the two leaders assessed the situation. “Anguished by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” Shah assured.