US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised India’s professional handling of the Delhi blast probe, highlighting the capability of Indian security agencies. (Image Credit: X/@DrSJaishankar)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised India’s response to the Delhi blast probe as “measured and professional.” He pointed out that although an offer of assistance has been made by the U.S., Indian authorities are competent to handle the investigation on their own. “They don’t need our help, and they’re doing a good job,” Rubio said, referring to the explosion as “clearly a terrorist attack” involving a car loaded with highly explosive materials.
The car bomb near Delhi's Red Fort Metro Station on November 10 left at least 10 people dead and several others injured. Indian security agencies reacted quickly, securing the site and launching a full-scale investigation under anti-terror laws.
Policymakers underscored a cautious step-by-step approach, with an emphasis on evidence collection and prioritizing citizens' safety, reflecting India's preparedness to handle complex terror-related incidents.
On the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Canada, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Marco Rubio. The leaders discussed the Delhi blast, for which Rubio extended condolences and support.
Their discussion also ranged across the broader set of bilateral and global issues, such as trade, supply chains, regional security, and the Indo-Pacific situation, underlining the diplomatic and strategic dimensions intertwined with the crisis.
Rubio's comments came at a time of high regional sensitivities, especially after a suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people, which Pakistan's leadership claimed involved "terrorist proxies"-a charge denied by India.
Rubio added that Washington foresaw tension, but he praised the measured reaction by India, underlining that the response from the country had been professional and restrained.
Anti-terror laws are being invoked as India's security agencies, comprising the National Investigation Agency, take the lead in this probe. Investigators are tracing the origin of the explosives, identifying perpetrators, and reviewing surveillance footage.
Authorities have promised that justice for the victims will be swift while the investigation proceeds meticulously to prevent such incidents in the future. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Delhi issued a message of support and advised heightened awareness in public areas near the site of the blast.
