Indo-Pak: US Suggests Restrain; LoC Escalation

On the tension building up between India and Pakistan after the 22 Apr Pahalgam attack, on 2 May, US vice president James David Vance said, ‘Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict.’ A day later, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said it is his responsibility to work with the armed forces and give a ‘befitting reply’ to those who cast an evil eye on India. At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan 'requested closed consultations' on the tensions between the two countries. Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member (on rotation) of the 15-nation UNSC. India is not in the UNSC. Neither India nor the UNSC has issued a formal statement after the talks but Indian media is screaming Pakistan was rebuked at the meeting. On 5 May, Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on preparedness in case of a retaliatory strike by Pakistan. There was no official statement on the meeting. Ever since India imposed sanctions on Pakistan, there have been a slew of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). Unprovoked firing from posts across the border have simultaneously taken place all along the LoC in multiple sectors. Meanwhile, on 24 Apr, the National Investigation Agency told the Supreme Court of India that the proceeds of the 2,988 kg heroin consignment worth USD 2.5B that was intercepted at the Gautam Adani owned Mundra port by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in September 2021 were 'used…for funding terrorist activities of' the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati also said that a retired customs official who cleared the consignment was found dead. On 5 May, Panjab Police arrested Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih who were allegedly leaking sensitive information about Indian military installations in Amritsar to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (earlier coverage).