US will help India with resources to fight terrorism: House speaker Mike Johnson

He assured that the US stands firmly with India in its fight against terrorism, and will help with energy cooperation and resource assistance.

The United States will help India with resources to fight terrorism, said US House Speaker Mike Johnson, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to help New Delhi combat terrorism.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Speaker Johnson condemned the ghastly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 people. He assured that the US stands firmly with India in its fight against terrorism, and will help with energy cooperation and resource assistance.

Johnson, in his address, noted, “India has to stand against terrorism. We will do everything possible to support those efforts. Trump administration will help India with energy and resources to fight terrorism," Johnson asserted.

"We will assist India with the necessary energy partnerships and resources as it confronts the threat of terrorism," the Speaker said, adding that both nations share common values of democracy and the rule of law and must work closely to preserve global security.

Further underlining the strategic depth of the India-US ties, Johnson noted, "We’ll do everything we can in the US to support those efforts. The Trump administration clearly understands the significance of this partnership and the growing threat of terrorism."

US President Donald Trump was among the first global leaders to respond to the incident, offering strong condemnation and support. “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism. Prime Minister Modi and the people of India have our full support and deepest sympathies,” he had stated.

In a further development, last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held high-level diplomatic calls with both Indian and Pakistani counterparts, urging immediate steps to de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Rubio spoke separately with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Rubio reportedly underlined the need for direct communication between New Delhi and Islamabad to prevent further escalation and reaffirmed American support for India in its fight against terrorism.

Following the attack, tensions have been running high between the nuclear-armed neighbours. India suspended the Indus Water Treaty, shut down the Attari-Wagah border, and both countries have closed their airspace to each other's airlines.

Exchange of fire has been reported along the Line of Control (LoC), with the Pakistan army breaching ceasefire for 12 consecutive nights now.

The deadly attack was carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to punish those responsible, prompting concerns in Pakistan about potential military retaliation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Monday, directed several states to conduct nationwide civil defence mock drills on May 7.

The drills, the first of such magnitude since 1971 - the year India and Pakistan last fought a full-scale war - are reportedly aimed at fortifying civilian preparedness in case of future threats, including missile attacks or aerial strikes. These will include simulated air raids, blackout protocols, and deployment of emergency response teams across multiple states.