The United States has praised India’s swift and professional investigation into the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed 12 people earlier this week. While offering support, Washington acknowledged India’s strong handling of the probe.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking after the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada, said that although the US had extended an offer to assist, Indian agencies were fully capable of managing the investigation.
“We’ve offered to help, but they don’t need our help — they’re doing a good job. The Indians need to be commended for how measured, cautious, and professional they’ve been,” Rubio stated.
Rubio confirmed that the explosion was a terrorist attack, involving a car loaded with high-intensity explosives that detonated near the Red Fort on Monday evening. The blast came just hours after Delhi Police dismantled a terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, arresting eight suspects, including three doctors.
Rubio said he had spoken to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar about the incident. Jaishankar later confirmed their discussion, saying he appreciated Rubio’s condolences over the loss of lives. “We also discussed trade, supply chains, and developments in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific,” Jaishankar shared on social media, describing the interaction as a “good meeting.”
This was the second meeting between the two leaders in two weeks, following their earlier talks at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials have collected over 40 samples from the blast site. Preliminary findings indicate the use of ammonium nitrate in the explosives. Investigators believe the main accused, Dr. Umar, was in contact with a Turkiye-based handler and was plotting an attack reminiscent of the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes.
