The United States on Sunday called on India and Pakistan to seek a "responsible" way forward following a deadly terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, while also reaffirming its support for India.

The US State Department said it has engaged with both governments at multiple levels after the April 22 assault, which claimed 26 lives. In the aftermath of the attack, India launched a diplomatic campaign against Pakistan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging to hunt down and punish those responsible.

Pakistan, in turn, retaliated diplomatically and demanded an independent inquiry into the incident. Some of its ministers even issued threats against India. Amidst the growing strain, the US urged both sides to work toward a peaceful and responsible resolution.

“This remains a fluid situation and we are closely following the developments,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement sent to Reuters.

“The United States encourages all parties involved to pursue a responsible resolution,” the spokesperson added.

The US also reiterated its condemnation of the terror attack and emphasized its support for India — a message echoed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Washington considers New Delhi a vital partner in countering China's expanding influence across Asia. Although Pakistan has historically been a US ally, its role diminished after the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Meanwhile, China sided with Pakistan’s demand for an impartial investigation into India’s allegations. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced support for a neutral probe after a phone conversation between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Islamabad suggested that experts from China, Russia, or Western countries could form the investigation team.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also stated his government would willingly cooperate with any neutral inquiry into the Pahalgam attack.

The Pahalgam assault, the deadliest terrorist incident in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, was claimed by The Resistance Front — widely seen as a front for the banned Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Indian authorities released images of three attackers who reportedly opened fire on unarmed tourists at the picturesque Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam.

In response, India launched a series of diplomatic and security measures: suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, halting overland trade by shutting down the Integrated Check Post at Attari, and revoking the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani citizens, giving them 40 hours to exit India.

Both nations have also reduced staffing at their respective High Commissions. Indian officials defended these steps as justified and proportionate, while Pakistan dismissed India’s claims as "baseless" and warned of retaliatory actions if New Delhi escalates further.