00:00What is America doing to assure India that its current closer ties with Pakistan will not come at the expense
00:07of India's fight against terrorism?
00:09Well, first of all, the United States has to have a relationship with as many countries in the world as
00:13possible
00:13because we have a global presence and a global interest in anything that's going on.
00:18So our relationship with Pakistan is not new.
00:21I think it's just developed in a way that allows us to have, hopefully, more influence over the decisions they
00:27make on a variety of topics.
00:29In no way does the relationship with Pakistan come at the expense of our relationship with India.
00:34We share the same concerns India does about terrorism.
00:37We have been victims of terrorism, as India has been, and we continue to, in fact, no country in the
00:42world does more to go after terrorism in the United States than the United States.
00:46It was the United States under President Trump that destroyed ISIS or Daesh in the Middle East.
00:50It's the United States that eroded al-Qaeda.
00:52It's the United States that went in and eliminated bin Laden.
00:56It's the United States that's gone in now and, unfortunately, has had to go into parts of Africa and take
01:01on these elements as well.
01:02So I don't think any country in the world has shown a greater commitment to go after the terrorism, terrorism,
01:07global terrorism in the United States has done.
01:09And that includes many of the same sort of ideologies that also threaten India.
01:13And if you recall, last year you played quite a diplomatic role at Operation Sindhu after the terror attack in
01:19Pahalgam on that crucial day on May 10th, I think, 2025,
01:23where you spoke directly to the leadership on both sides.
01:25Could you take us behind the scenes of that particular thing, and how did the conversation...
01:30I won't take you behind the scenes because then no one will ever talk to me again in the future.
01:34But I'll know, so I can't do that.
01:36But I can just tell you, look, any time we see a flashpoint between countries that could lead to a
01:40broader conflict and a war,
01:41if we can play a constructive role, we'll try to.
01:44And I think it's a good example of our ability to speak to multiple parties and use, in the case
01:50of India, a long pre-existing relationship, in the case of Pakistan,
01:53one that I think has improved over the last few years, to just ensure that there isn't flashpoints that could
01:58lead to something broader and more difficult.
02:00Look, the tensions that exist between the two countries are well understood.
02:03I don't need to sort of explain that to you or your audience.
02:06But I can say to you with confidence that I think the United States is prepared to play a constructive
02:11role because we'd prefer not see war.
02:14We'd prefer to see the opportunity to partner in business and commerce and do things that provide prosperity and security
02:19for the people of India,
02:20but also the people of the United States.
