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Letter to Foreign Affairs committee May 22, 2025
The Chair and Members of
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
Subject: Uniting Against Global Jihadi Terrorism and Supporting India’s Right to Self-Defense
As the Subcommittee on Asia prepares to convene a critical discussion on terrorism in South Asia, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, DC based Policy Institute, request for your attention to facts and aftermath of the horrific April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 innocent civilians— were systematically hunted and murdered non-Muslims with military-grade precision by operatives of The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based terror group openly affiliated with the U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The attackers, armed with advanced weaponry and tactical gear, executed their victims at close range before vanishing into the forests toward Pakistan, exploiting cross-border infiltration routes long nurtured by Pakistan’s military-intelligence establishment. This attack was part of Pakistan’s relentless campaign of terror that has claimed over 100,000 civilian lives since 1947—underscores the existential threat posed by extremist ideologies.
A Global War with a Common Thread
The Pahalgam attack is not an isolated tragedy but part of a pattern of Jihadi violence that spans borders:
- 2001: Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks on the U.S.
- 2008: Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) slaughtered 166 in Mumbai, including six Americans.
- 2023: Hamas’ October 7 massacre in Israel.
- 2025: Pahalgam’s targeted Hindu killings.
These atrocities share a common thread: Jihadi terrorism enabled by state sponsors like Pakistan, which harbors UN-designated groups such as LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. The U.S. The State Department has repeatedly confirmed Pakistan’s role in sheltering these groups, including LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who was reportedly seen in public in Pakistan, despite a $10 million U.S. bounty.
India’s Right to Defend Its Citizens
For 30 years, India has shown restraint—enduring attacks on its Parliament (2001), Mumbai (2008), Uri (2016), and Pulwama (2019). Yet after Pahalgam, India exercised its sovereign right to self-defense, as any nation would after 9/11 or October 7. As a measured response, India conducted a precisely targeted counterterror operation on May 7, striking nine terror sites inside Pakistan, including LeT and TRF command centers, while avoiding civilian or economic damage. Pakistan, however, chose escalation, launching 400+ drone attacks on Indian cities—a reckless act underscoring its role as a terrorist mercenary state. Pakistan’s attack was actively fueled by external powers like China and Turkiye. India’s robust air defense systems intercepted most, and in a restrained yet firm response, India struck three Pakistani military air bases used in these attacks. Importantly, despite holding a clear strategic and operational advantage after neutralizing key terror hubs and crippling Pakistan’s air defenses, India demonstrated remarkable statesmanship by accepting a ceasefire—opting for regional stability over escalation. This decision, made from a position of strength, helped avert further bloodshed and broader destabilization, even as Pakistan remains vulnerable and economically crumbling.
Request to Stand with India on the Global War Against Terror
We request the Committee to:
- Condemn Pahalgam and other acts of global Jihadi terrorism
- Support India’s Right to Self-Defense against cross-border terrorism.
- On this urgent backdrop, we would like to support bipartisan recommendations from India Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, which rightly called for:
- Enhanced U.S.-India intelligence cooperation to dismantle terror networks.
- Targeted counterterrorism support to India through technical and logistical resources.
- Firm U.S. advocacy for regional stability that addresses cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.
Conclusion
The war against Jihadi terrorism is a global fight for civilization itself. As democracies, the U.S. and India must stand united. We urge your committees to champion this cause, support India’s right to protect its citizens, and hold Pakistan accountable.
Respectfully,
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2025, Washington DC, USA
Jihadi Terror Attack in Kashmir: Call for US Congress Resolution for Global Unity To Eradicate Terrorism
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir. On April 22, Pakistan-based jihadi terrorists brutally attacked civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing at least 26 people, predominantly Hindus who were deliberately identified and targeted. Initial intelligence suggests the attack likely originated from Lakshar-E-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen associated The Resistance Front operating from Pakistan — a nation with a long and troubling record of directly and indirectly sponsoring terrorism in India.
Over the past seven decades, more than hundred thousand people — overwhelmingly Hindus and Sikhs — have been killed or displaced by Islamist terrorism in India, a humanitarian tragedy that remains grossly underreported.
This latest massacre is not only an affront to India but a cowardly attempt to insult the United States as well, particularly as the U.S. Vice President JD Vance is currently on an official visit to India to strengthen ties between the world’s largest democracies. It can be remembered that a similar deadly attack was carried out during President Clinton’s India visit in March 2000, in which 36 Sikhs were killed in a village named Chattisinghpura, Kashmir.
President Donald Trump and other world leaders have rightly condemned this cowardly attack and expressed solidarity with India. We urge the global community to move beyond words — to unite and take decisive action to eradicate terrorism and punish the states that sponsor it. In particular, we call for sanctions on countries that continue to harbor and support terrorist groups.
We thank the U.S. House of Representatives for swiftly condemning this heinous attack. We also urge the U.S. Congress to pass a formal resolution denouncing all terrorism and supporting India’s right to defend its citizens.
Given that Hindus were explicitly targeted, we call upon the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to break its silence and unequivocally condemn this act of jihadi terrorism against religious minorities in Kashmir.
It is time for the world to stand united, not just in mourning but in action, to dismantle the global infrastructure of terror once and for all.
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After FIIDS appeal for Congressional resolution/ statement, we observed India Caucus leaders Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Rich McCormick sprung into unparalleled action to lead India caucus on this issue. We appreciate their leadership in the India Caucus and their strong statement condemning the jihadi terrorist attack in Kashmir. Their call to enhance U.S.-India intelligence cooperation, support India’s counterterrorism operations, and promote regional stability reflects a deep understanding of the geopolitical challenges and the need for united democratic action against terrorism. Their leadership sets the tone for meaningful bipartisan engagement in support of India and global security.
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To: Honorable Member of the United States Congress
Attn: <<representative’s staffer’s name>>, <<staffer’s title>>, <<representative’s name>>
Dear <<staffer’s name>> ,
Kindly help and forward this email to bring it to the representative’s attention.
On behalf of the Indian American community and the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), we are writing to draw your urgent attention to the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which took place on April 22, 2025.
In this horrific act of violence, jihadi terrorists brutally murdered at least 26 innocent civilians—many of whom were specifically identified and targeted for being Hindu. The attack appears to have originated from terror groups operating with support from Pakistan, a country with a long-standing history of harboring and abetting terrorism in the region.
This tragedy is not just an assault on India’s security and religious minorities—it is an affront to democratic values globally. That this attack occurred during U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s official visit to India further underscores the perpetrators’ intention to undermine the strategic partnership between the world’s two largest democracies.
We are reminded of a similarly timed attack in March 2000, when 36 Sikhs were murdered in Chattisinghpura, Kashmir, during President Clinton’s visit to India—yet another example of terrorism seeking to derail diplomatic progress and peace efforts.
We are grateful for the statements and support expressed by President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and many other prominent elected representatives.
Given the gravity of this situation, we respectfully urge you to take the following actions:
- Issue a public statement/tweet unequivocally condemning this act of religiously motivated terrorism.
- Support a resolution in the U.S. Congress that not only denounces this attack but also calls for coordinated global action to eliminate terrorism and sanction state sponsors of such violence.
- Request that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) formally acknowledged and condemned this jihadi attack on Hindu civilians.
This is not just about condemning a single event. It is about standing firmly against the global infrastructure of terrorism and protecting religious freedoms—principles that lie at the heart of American values.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Your leadership can help ensure that this tragedy is met not with silence, but with decisive moral and political action.
—- —- —– —- —- —- —- — —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —–\Namaste,
As discussed during our call yesterday, please find attached a draft letter addressed to U.S. Senators and Representatives. The letter provides a brief on the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and respectfully urges them to issue a public statement (such as a tweet) and support the upcoming congressional resolution condemning the attack.
To take action:
Feel free to personalize the message by adding a sentence about why this issue matters to you as a constituent.
Find your Representative or Senator using this link: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
You can search by your ZIP code to identify your elected officials.
Send them the letter via email or their contact form, which is usually available on their official website. You can also call their office and follow up after sending the email.
