'India has to stand against terrorism…Trump administration will help with energy and resources'

The US House of Representatives Speaker, Mike Johnson, has said that Washington will support India in its defence against terrorism as tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad simmer over the Pahalgam attack.

“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 said at the Congressional briefing at Capitol Hill on Monday.

Very pertinent question from @surinderkauldr to the speaker of the house Mike Johnson
‘What is your message for India who has been at the receiving end of cross border terrorism for last several decades’
Today,May 5th at Congressional briefing at The Capitol Hill, Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/qoPlItUgfN

— Global KP Diaspora (GKPD) (@kp_global) May 5, 2025

Johnson’s comments came after US State Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over the phone last week and “encouraged” India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace in South Asia.

During his conversation with Rubio, Jaishankar informed that the perpetrators behind the tragic Pahalgam terror attack must be held accountable and brought to justice.

The US State Department said Secretary Rubio expressed support for India in its fight against extremism and urged Pakistan to cooperate in the investigation into the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, in which Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent people, mostly tourists.

India conducts mock drills

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has asked all states to conduct mock drills on Wednesday in view of “new and complex threats” that have emerged amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

According to a home ministry communication, the measures to be taken during the mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a “hostile attack” and cleaning bunkers and trenches.

The other measures are provisions for crash-blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations and updating and rehearsing evacuation plans, a letter to the chief secretaries of all states and administrators of Union territories said.

With inputs from agencies