‘Not Our War’: Charlie Kirk on the Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor

Charlie Kirk, a prominent podcaster and close ally of former US President Donald Trump, who was shot dead at a Utah college event on Wednesday, had previously commented on the military tensions between India and Pakistan.

Kirk on the Pahalgam Terror Attack and Operation Sindoor

Referring to the escalation following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Operation Sindoor), Kirk discussed the situation on his May podcast titled “What the Heck is Going on in India!”. He described the two nations as “on the verge of war,” accusing Pakistan of sheltering terrorists and calling it a “sneaky actor,” while portraying India as a largely Hindu-majority nation outraged by the attacks.

Kirk cited reports of “air and missile strikes on nine different sites in Pakistan,” claiming dozens of casualties and aircraft losses on both sides. He noted that both countries are nuclear powers but suggested that the principle of mutually assured destruction (MAD) made a nuclear escalation unlikely.

The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22 in the Baisaran Valley meadow near Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, left 26 tourists dead. Investigators reported that the heavily armed terrorists wore camouflage and used sophisticated weapons, sometimes singling out victims based on religion before opening fire.

America’s Role: Moral Support, Not Intervention

Kirk emphasized that the conflict was not America’s to fight. “Maybe we slightly favour India because they are retaliating to Islamic terror, but that should go no further than moral support. This is not our war… not our conflict to get involved in,” he said, cautioning against calls in Washington for military intervention, specifically naming figures like John Bolton and Lindsey Graham.

Trade and Geopolitics

Kirk also linked the tensions to broader geopolitics, noting that former President Trump had highlighted India’s willingness to reduce tariffs on US goods. He suggested this could strengthen US-India ties while countering China. “This is a great test of whether or not every conflict is America’s problem,” Kirk added, advocating for a limited US role focused on diplomacy and encouraging peace talks.