Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee and senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released a statement on the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. 

In recent weeks, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a series of violent and retaliatory actions. On April 22, terrorists killed 26 mostly Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, while Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian commercial airlines. This week, India launched strikes on suspected terror-training camps, followed by both countries exchanging drone attacks. 

“As the longest-serving Indian American member of the United States Congress, and a senior member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have been briefed on the latest tensions between India and Pakistan.

“The terror attacks on innocent civilians last month in Kashmir cannot be tolerated and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. We must confront the continued presence of terror groups operating from within Pakistan, which have repeatedly destabilized the region and taken countless innocent lives.

“Tensions must not be allowed to spiral into broader conflict. I am actively working with the Administration and Congressional leaders to support a path toward de-escalation. This is not just about addressing the immediate crisis — it is an opportunity to open the door to a broader conversation about how to resolve the long-standing conflict and tensions in the region.

“I also urge both India and Pakistan to work with the State Department and international partners to support efforts for a ceasefire and begin laying the groundwork for a more permanent solution.

“India and Pakistan have lived with the costs of this conflict for far too long. It is imperative that we work toward a long-term peace to ensure the safety, security and prosperity of all people in the region.”