The United States has ruled out direct intervention in the intensifying military confrontation between India and Pakistan, with Vice President JD Vance stating the conflict is “fundamentally none of our business.”
In an interview with Fox News, Vance emphasized that while the Trump administration would encourage diplomatic de-escalation, it would not act as a mediator in what has become South Asia’s most volatile standoff in years.
Vance acknowledged the gravity of the situation but stressed Washington’s limited influence over the nuclear-armed rivals. “We can’t force either side to disarm,” he said, adding that the U.S. would pursue dialogue through diplomatic channels but had “no ability to control” the outcome.
His remarks reflect the Trump administration’s broader “America First” policy, which has seen the U.S. step back from mediation roles in global conflicts, including Ukraine.
Tensions flared after India launched airstrikes into Pakistan early Wednesday, targeting what it called “terrorist infrastructure.” Pakistan retaliated with missile and drone attacks, which India claims to have intercepted. Islamabad reported at least 31 civilian deaths from Indian strikes, while cross-border shelling has killed dozens on both sides.
Overnight, explosions rocked India’s Jammu region as air raid sirens sounded in multiple cities. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told the BBC his country had yet to fully retaliate but would “not deny” its actions when it does.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for “immediate de-escalation” in joint statements with regional leaders, while diplomats from Iran and Saudi Arabia have shuttled to Delhi in a bid to defuse tensions.
But Vance’s comments suggest the U.S. sees little room for productive engagement. “Our hope is this doesn’t spiral into a broader war or God forbid, a nuclear conflict,” he said, though he downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome.
The violence follows April’s terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 Indian civilians, an incident Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. While Vance previously acknowledged India’s right to respond, he warned against actions that could trigger wider war.
Thousands of villagers near the Line of Control have reportedly fled as shelling continues, underscoring the human toll of a conflict with no clear off-ramp.
