US Vice President J.D. Vance has expressed hope that Pakistan will cooperate with India to identify and apprehend the terrorists responsible for the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said during an interview on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier. “And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.”

This marked Vice President Vance’s first public statement on the April 22 attack. Notably, he and his family were visiting India when the assault took place. At the time, he condemned the attack in a post on X and extended his condolences to the victims’ families.

The attack, which killed 25 tourists and one local, was one of the deadliest against civilians in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. It took place on a remote scenic trail near Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir.

Vance’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The US is actively engaging with both nations to prevent further escalation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate conversations with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, urging cooperation and de-escalation.

Back in India, Home Minister Amit Shah issued a stern warning to perpetrators, declaring, “If anyone thinks that a cowardly attack is their victory, they must remember this is Narendra Modi’s India — and revenge will be taken, one by one.” Prime Minister Modi also vowed to “pursue” the attackers and their backers “to the ends of the earth.”

In response to the attack, India downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, expelled Pakistani military personnel, closed its airspace to Pakistani flights, and sealed the Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan responded with countermeasures, including suspending the Simla Agreement.

While India has since allowed Pakistani nationals to return home via the Attari-Wagah border, Pakistan has yet to grant the same passage to Indian nationals.