US Vice President JD Vance stated on Thursday that the United States will not intervene in a potential war between India and Pakistan, calling the conflict outside of America’s responsibilities. In a Fox News interview, he said the US hopes both sides will de-escalate tensions but made clear that Washington has no intention of stepping into the fight.
Vance explained that while the US is encouraging diplomacy, it cannot dictate the actions of two sovereign, nuclear-armed countries. “We can’t control these nations,” he said. “What we can do is offer support for de-escalation, but this isn’t something we should get directly involved in.”
This comes amid a sharp rise in hostilities following an Indian strike on May 7 that killed 31 Pakistani civilians. In retaliation, Pakistan claims it downed five Indian fighter jets and destroyed dozens of drones. Fighting continued into Thursday, with Pakistan’s defense minister warning of likely further retaliation.
India argued that its strikes were aimed at militant hideouts it blames for an April 22 attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people. Pakistan denied the charge and called for an international investigation, accusing India of unprovoked aggression that risks sparking wider conflict in the region.
Despite the rising tensions, the US has remained in contact with both nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India’s foreign minister, urging both to step back and hold direct talks. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump called the back-and-forth violence “a shame” and urged restraint.
Although India is a strategic partner for the US in countering China, and Pakistan remains a regional ally, American officials appear focused on avoiding further global entanglements. With US attention stretched by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, analysts say Washington may let regional powers handle this crisis on their own.