US says it will support India after Islamic terrorists kill 26 in Kashmir

President Donald Trump and other members of the administration pledged full support after Islamic terrorists shot and killed 26 tourists in India’s Kashmir region.

At least 17 others were injured in the attack, according to Reuters.

Gunmen, who are still at large, targeted a popular tourist attraction with automatic rifles.

Indian security officials said the shooters were part of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani terror group also known as the Army of the Righteous.

India blamed Pakistan for its “moral, political and diplomatic support” of the terror group responsible, according to Fox News, and retaliated by expelling diplomats and scuttling a water rights treaty.

Trump immediately posted his support for India to social media.

“Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism,” said Trump. “We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!”

At the time of the attack, Vice President JD Vance was in India, partly on a trade mission. The vice president’s wife is the child of Indian immigrants.  

Earlier in the week, Vance met with the prime minister seeking a trade agreement with what is widely expected this year to become the world’s most populous country, overtaking China. 

After the attack, Vance spoke on the phone with Modi.

“Vice President @VP @JDVance called Prime Minister @narendramodi and strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Indian foreign affairs ministry. “He conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of lives and reiterated that the United States stands with the people of India in this difficult hour.”  

Vance posted a message on X expressing his condolences on the attack prior to the call. 

While speculation swirled that the terror attack was tied to Vance’s visit, so far there is no concrete evidence of any link. In a message posted on Telegram, the terror group mentioned local grievances between Muslims and Hindus, but Vance wasn’t mentioned. 

Indian media, however, has said that the attack bears painful similarities an attack in 2000, just days before then-President Bill Clinton visited the country.  

That attack, which killed 35, was also carried out in Kashmir by Islamic terrorists with ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba. 

Vance noted prior to the attack this week that the U.S. was anxious to have closer defense ties to India, including the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the country. 

India is a part of what’s known as the Quad Alliance with the U.S., Australia and Japan to counter China’s ambitions to dominate Asia. As the U.S. reorients its foreign and defense policy to thwart China, India has grown in importance. 

China and India have been engaged in border clashes between their two armies in Ladakh, near the Kashmir region where the recent terror attack occurred.