NEW DELHI: United States secretary of state
Marco Rubio on Thursday said the repercussion of the Delhi car bomb blast has the "potential of becoming something broader" as he acknowledged the explosion near Red Fort was a “heinous terror incident.”
Rubio has said the Hyundai i20 explosion near Red Fort was “clearly” a terrorist attack and commended India for being “very measured” and “very professional” in the way it is investigating the deadly incident.
A high-intensity blast outside the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday claimed at least 13 lives. India on Wednesday termed the car explosion as a “heinous terror incident.”
“Yeah, we’re aware of the potential that that holds. But I think the Indians are – need to be commended; they have been very measured and cautious and very professional in how they’re carrying out this investigation,” Rubio said Wednesday in remarks to the press in Canada' Hamilton.
“That investigation continues. Clearly, it was a terrorist attack. It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people,” Rubio said.
When asked how concerned he was about rising tensions between India and Pakistan, against the backdrop of the four-day conflict between the two neighbours in May, Rubio said: “(But) I think they’re doing a very good job of carrying out an investigation; and I think when they have facts, they’ll release those facts.”
India had launched
Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.
“But clearly, ... we’re aware of the potential that it has, and so we spoke about that a little bit today – the potential that it has to become something broader. But I think we’re going to wait and see what their investigation reveals,” Rubio said, according to news agency PTI.
Rubio also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the margins of the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Niagara.
He added that the US has offered to help, but “I think they’re very capable in these investigations. They don’t need our help. They’re doing a good job, and I thought they were very measured and professional in how they’ve approached it, as they usually are.”
Following his meeting with Rubio, Jaishankar said in a post on X: “Good to meet @SecRubio this morning at #G7 FMM. Appreciate his condolences on the loss of lives in the blast in Delhi. Discussed our bilateral ties, focusing on trade and supply chains. Exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East/West Asia situation and Indo-Pacific.”
PM Modi's strong message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that those responsible for the Delhi car blast won't be spared and will be brought to justice. PM Modi, who was on a two-day visit to Bhutan, said that he monitored the situation all night after the blast.
"Today, I come here with a very heavy heart. The horrific incident that took place in Delhi yesterday evening has deeply saddened everyone. I understand the grief of the affected families. The entire nation stands with them today," he said.
The Prime Minister added that he was in touch with all agencies investigating the incident.
"I was in touch with all the agencies investigating this incident throughout last night. Our agencies will get to the bottom of this conspiracy. The conspirators behind this will not be spared. All those responsible will be brought to justice," he added.
Union home minister Amit Shah also on Thursday said that those responsible for the recent Delhi bomb blast will be given the “strictest possible punishment”.
He added that the action will send a strong message to the world that no one should ever dare to attack India again.
BJP's 'response loading' clip
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday posted a clip of how India responded to every terror attack with a cross-border surgical strike, airstrike, and Operation Sindoor, which was launched to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack.
In a drastic revision of its security doctrine, India, in May, after the Pahalgam attack, declared that it would from now on consider every instance of terrorism directed against it as an 'act of war' and would respond accordingly.
Sources explained that the decision considerably lowers the threshold for India to give a full-scale military response to attacks orchestrated from across the border.
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