'US backs India's right to defend itself:' Defence Minister Rajnath after call with Hegseth

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (May 1) talked with the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

This conversation happened shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar.

The two sides reportedly discussed the terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed, mostly Hindus.

In their phone conversation, Hegseth told Rajnath Singh how deeply saddened he was by the deaths caused by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and backed India’s right to defend itself.

According to a statement from the Indian Defense Ministry, Hegseth said that “the US stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself. He reiterated the strong support of the US government in India’s fight against terrorism.”

Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh told Hegseth that “Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations”.

Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad have intensified in the aftermath of the attack, with Indian intelligence agencies hinting at the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the massacre.

Earlier, a phone call took place between Jaishankar and Rubio, during which the Indian foreign minister stressed that “perpetrators, backers and planners” of the Pahalgam attack “must be brought to justice.”

Rubio earlier held talks with Pakistani side as well, during which he reportedly told Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif of the need to condemn the attack and re-establish direct communications, according to a statement released by the US State Department.

Pakistan’s military is still mobilising its forces at the border with India, according to reports. They have reportedly moved anti-aircraft weapons and large guns to the front areas.

On Tuesday, the top military operations officials from India and Pakistan spoke on the phone. Indian defence sources said on Wednesday that they discussed Pakistan’s unprovoked breaking of the ceasefire agreement. India warned Pakistan not to continue these unprovoked violations by their army along the Line of Control (LOC) and the International Border.