Pakistan has history of backing, funding terrorists, Rajnath tells US counterpart

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Speaks with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth earlier today.

During the call, Hegseth expressed his deepest sympathies over the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as a “dastardly act of terror.”

Defence Minister's Office in their X post mentioned that Secretary Hegseth conveyed the United States’ solidarity with India and reaffirmed Washington’s strong support for India’s right to defend itself.

The U.S. Secretary of Defence @PeteHegseth spoke to Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh earlier today and expressed his deepest sympathies for the tragic loss of innocent civilians in the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.Secretary Hegseth said that the U.S.

/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 1, 2025

"U.S. stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself. He reiterated the strong support of the U.S. government in India's fight against terrorism," Defense Minister office posted on X.

"During the conversation, RM told the Defence secretary that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations. He further said that it is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out such heinous acts of terrorism," the X post further mentioned.

Amid escalating tensions, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has called on President Donald Trump to intervene and assist in reducing the growing strain between India and Pakistan, according to a report by Newsweek, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

This conversation followed after a phone conversation between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The diplomatic outreach came in the wake of heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.