4 hours ago
Last Updated:May 08, 2025, 13:18 IST
Ro Khanna called for a de-escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, a situation that has escalated since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
US Congressman Ro Khanna
US Congressman Ro Khanna urged Pakistan to avoid retaliatory action following India’s “Operation Sindoor," which targeted multiple terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK). He called for a de-escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, a situation that has escalated since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
In a CNN interview, Ro Khanna emphasized the critical need for de-escalation, stating, “Both have nuclear weapons. Well, the most urgent thing is de-escalation…India took a response that helped take out some of the terrorist networks. The important thing now is for de-escalation."
He voiced his hope that US President Donald Trump’s administration included individuals knowledgeable about the intricate regional dynamics and diplomatic history of India and Pakistan, to aid in de-escalation.
“The only reason I say is that they’ve (India and Pakistan) been fighting for centuries…It was British colonialism that fomented the partition, that fomented some of the divisions between Hindus and Muslims there. It’s important to really understand the region, and we need to be an honest broker for escalation," he said.
The Congressman also characterized Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim Munir, as a “dictator," and asserted that there is “no honest voice" in Pakistan. He called for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and suggested that the US should use its leverage, including IMF loans, to pressure Pakistan to hold fair elections.
“We also have to understand that Asim Munir is a dictator who didn’t have legitimate elections, who has put Imran Khan in jail. There is no honest voice right now in Pakistan, because it’s a dictatorship. We should be calling for elections, fair elections, after the de-escalation," Ro Khanna said.
“There should be an end to it. We have a lot of leverage with Pakistan. We give the IMF loans to Pakistan. They’re dependent upon that. We should be saying to Asim Munir that he needs to free Imran Khan, stop any retaliation and then have a fair election, because there was a rigged election," he added.
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world US Congressman Ro Khanna’s ‘Don't Retaliate’ Warning To Pakistan After Operation Sindoor
