US calls Delhi blast terror attack, praises India’s probe

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday described the fatal explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort as a “clearly terrorist attack” and commended India’s professionalism in handling the investigation. His remarks came after New Delhi officially confirmed that Monday evening’s car blast, which killed several people, was a deliberate act of terror.

Responding to questions on the incident, Rubio said, “The Indians need to be commended. They’ve been very measured, cautious and very professional in carrying out this investigation. That investigation continues. It clearly was a terrorist attack. It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people.” He added that the United States had offered help, but noted that India is “very capable” of managing such investigations on its own.

Rubio also said he had spoken with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara. The two discussed the blast, bilateral cooperation, and wider geopolitical developments. The US Secretary of State conveyed Washington’s condolences for the victims.

Indian agencies investigating the explosion have uncovered links to a sophisticated “white-collar terror network” involving professionals such as doctors and clerics. Preliminary findings connect the module to two jihadist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) both of which are already designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the United States. Between October 19 and November 10, coordinated operations led to multiple arrests and the recovery of nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosive material.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the fatalities and directed agencies to pursue the investigation with the “utmost urgency,” ensuring all perpetrators and collaborators are brought to justice.

While neither side has publicly speculated on broader security implications, officials familiar with past regional crises note that such attacks have previously triggered rapid escalations, as seen after Pahalgam. Diplomatic engagement between India and the United States is therefore expected to remain close in the coming days to ensure the situation remains stable.