Trump Slams NYT Over 'Militants' Label in Pahalgam Attack, Backs Modi’s Anti-Terror Stance

Trump administration critique of The New York Times for labeling a Pahalgam attack as an act by "militants" rather than "terrorists," reflecting a semantic disagreement that highlights differing narratives on the Kashmir conflict, with the U.S. aligning with India’s stance on terrorism linked to Pakistan, as seen in India’s retaliatory measures like suspending a water treaty .

Trump administration has criticized The New York Times for describing the recent Pahalgam attack in Kashmir as an act by "militants" rather than "terrorists," underscoring a deepening alignment between the U.S. and India on counterterrorism. The attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, in the scenic Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam, claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including two foreigners, marking one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region in years. The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, claimed responsibility for the violence, prompting India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and close the Attari border post in retaliation, citing Pakistan's alleged role in cross-border terrorism.