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Taiba's role in Pahalgam terror attack, calls India ties a ‘defining relationship’
US Lawmaker Bill Huizenga flags Lashkar-e-Taiba's role in Pahalgam terror attack
US Congressman Bill Huizenga said that Washington and New Delhi share commitment to counterterrorism, describing the designation of LeT and TRF as a reflection of joint efforts “to fighting terror wherever it occurs.”
By Ritesh
(Photo Credit : Indian police officers stop vehicles at a check point following a terror attack, near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, April 22, 2025. REUTERS )
US Congressman Bill Huizenga has linked the recent Pahalgam terror attack to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), noting that the two organisations “were designated by the Trump administration as foreign terrorist organisations in July 2025."
His remarks came during the House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee’s hearing on the 'US India Strategic Partnership: Securing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific' on Wednesday, December 9.
Huizenga said that Washington and New Delhi share commitment to counterterrorism, describing the designation of LeT and TRF as a reflection of joint efforts “to fighting terror wherever it occurs.”
Three terrorists had killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.
Concerns over Russia, China and regional security
In his opening statement, Huizenga said the US-India partnership had evolved into “a defining relationship of the 21st century,” underlining the need for cooperation to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
He expressed concerns over India’s recent engagements with Russia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) but acknowledged New Delhi’s steps to reduce dependence on Russian energy.
He warned that authoritarian powers such as China and Russia were reshaping borders by force. Referring to tensions along the India-China border, he noted that Chinese forces had killed Indian soldiers since 2020, prompting India to respond "decisively" to military pressure.
Economic engagement and trade prospects
Huizenga also stressed the economic stakes of the partnership. He said that India’s rapid economic expansion had made it an increasingly significant destination for American companies.
“India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world… American companies are eager to enter the Indian market on a level playing field,” he noted, as per News18.
A potential trade agreement 'under President Trump and Prime Minister Modi' could, he said, help broaden economic cooperation and support innovation across sectors such as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Strengthening cooperation to counter China
Looking ahead, Huizenga emphasised the need for deeper collaboration between “the world’s largest economy and the soon-to-be third-largest economy,” telling the hearing he sought insights on how both nations could jointly "counterbalance China and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific."