US backs India on terror but says Pakistan ties key to fighting ISIS-K threat

The United States has reaffirmed its firm support for India in its fight against terrorism, even as a top American military commander stressed the importance of maintaining close ties with Pakistan to counter the growing threat from Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP).

Speaking at a press briefing recently, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with an Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor last week. During the meeting, Landau reiterated Washington’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with India and supporting its counter-terrorism efforts.

“The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ strong support of India in the fight against terrorism and highlighted the robust strategic partnership between our nations,” Bruce stated.

The meeting was part of India’s broader diplomatic push following Operation Sindoor, its counter-terror crackdown.

However, on the same day at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, General Michael Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command, highlighted the dual importance of engaging both India and Pakistan. While praising India as a “phenomenal partner” in counter-terrorism, Kurilla emphasized Pakistan’s pivotal role in dismantling ISIS-KP operations.

Kurilla cited the arrest and extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah — the ISIS-K operative behind the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul’s Abbey Gate that killed 13 US service members and around 160 Afghan civilians — as evidence of Pakistan’s utility as a counter-terror ally.

“These actions underscore Pakistan’s value in countering threats in Central and South Asia, and this importance is only set to grow as instability persists in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan,” Kurilla said.

He pushed back against the notion that US relations with India and Pakistan are mutually exclusive. “We must maintain engagement with both. It’s not a binary choice. Each relationship brings critical benefits,” he told lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Bruce also confirmed that a Pakistani delegation, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met senior State Department officials including Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. The discussions covered bilateral priorities such as counter-terror cooperation and regional stability.

Hooker reiterated Washington’s support for the ongoing ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border. “Both sides discussed the importance of sustained dialogue and efforts to prevent escalation,” Bruce said.

Pressed on whether the US had received any firm commitment from Islamabad to crack down on terror networks, Bruce declined to reveal details. “I’m not going to get into specifics of those conversations,” she said.

Responding to a question on whether former President Donald Trump might still push to mediate on Kashmir, Bruce offered a non-committal reply: “I can’t speak to his plans, but we know his style. If progress can be made in that conflict, it would be welcome.”

India, however, has repeatedly rejected third-party mediation on Kashmir. The Ministry of External Affairs last month made its position clear. “Any issues related to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are to be addressed bilaterally by India and Pakistan. The only outstanding issue is the vacation of Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.