New Delhi:

Vinay Kwatra, the U.S. Ambassador to India, has clarified remarks he made during a live CNN interview after referring to portions of Kashmir as “Indian-dose.” He stated, “First of all, I apologize for the confusion, and I’ll leave it up to you to clarify,” addressing host Wolf Blitzer. Kwatra emphasized that Jammu and the entirety of Kashmir are integral to India, asserting that the primary issue lies in the regions of Kashmir currently under Pakistani control.

During the discussion, which occurred amid reports of an explosion in the region, Kwatra acknowledged that while India was aware of activity taking place, “there are no details on any operations related to it.” He also condemned the terrorist attack in Pahargam on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities, calling it “the most vicious terrorist act.” He asserted, “Our main objective is to hold accountable individuals in these lower positions and ensure justice for the victims.”

Kwatra issued a strong denunciation of Pakistan, claiming it continues to side with terrorists. He remarked, “What this indicates globally is that Pakistan has once again allied itself with these terrorists. Instead of stepping in to confront them, they’re essentially providing support.” He added, “It’s evident they are choosing terrorism over civilized society in these heinous acts against innocent lives.”

His statements followed the initiation of Operation Sindoor by India, a military response to the Pahargam incident, which reportedly targeted and killed over 100 terrorists. Kwatra described the operation as a precise and coordinated action, ensuring that “we don’t allow a free pass to these terrorists.”

He characterized the military response as a measured attempt to deal with the terrorist infrastructure backed by Pakistan. Addressing Pakistan’s denial of involvement in the Pahargam attack, he noted, “Denial and obfuscation are always the opening strategies from Pakistan.” He suggested that Pakistan frequently avoids taking responsibility by pushing accountability into the future rather than addressing the present.

When questioned about the potential for escalating tensions between India and Pakistan to lead to a nuclear conflict, Kwatra indicated that the real concern should be the ongoing support for terrorist activities originating from Pakistan.