'Terrorism' in Pakistan and 'terrible explosion' in India — US posts on Islamabad and Delhi blasts spark outrage

While the car bombing was widely seen as a terrorist attack, the US embassy’s official post on X (formerly Twitter) neither used the word “terrorism” nor condemned the perpetrators.

Instead, it expressed “thoughts and prayers” for the victims — a message that came nearly 24 hours after the incident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were lost in the terrible explosion in New Delhi last night. We wish a swift recovery to those who were injured,” the US embassy in India posted, signed by Ambassador Sergio Gor.

The tone and timing of this message quickly sparked outrage across Indian social media, with several users pointing out the sharp contrast between the embassy’s response to the Delhi car bombing and its immediate, strongly-worded post on the Islamabad blast a day later.

In its message on the Pakistan incident — a suspected suicide bombing outside a judicial complex that killed at least twelve people — the US embassy in Islamabad called the attack an act of terrorism and pledged support to Pakistan’s counter-terror efforts.

“The United States stands in solidarity with Pakistan in the struggle against terrorism. Our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in today’s senseless attack. We condemn this attack and all forms of terrorism,” the embassy’s Islamabad post read.

The stark difference between the two statements ignited debate among Indian users, who accused Washington of double standards in how it describes and responds to terror attacks depending on the country involved.

Several commentators questioned why the US embassy in India avoided the term “terrorism” when the Delhi blast was already linked to the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Others noted that while the embassy in Islamabad wasted no time in condemning terrorism, its message for the victims in Delhi was delayed by an entire day.

“Thoughts and prayers for India, solidarity and condemnation for Pakistan — this sums up America’s selective moral outrage,” one prominent policy analyst wrote on X.

The controversy also comes at a sensitive time for India-US relations, as diplomatic tensions have resurfaced over trade tariffs and Washington’s balancing act between New Delhi and Islamabad.

US President Donald Trump has previously imposed tariffs on Indian goods over energy imports from Russia, while calling India an “important strategic partner” in the Indo-Pacific.

However, his repeated praise of Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir — describing him as his “favourite Field Marshal” — has raised eyebrows in New Delhi.

Indian officials have also dismissed Trump’s recent claim that he personally “prevented” a prolonged India-Pakistan conflict after Operation Sindoor began, saying there is “no factual basis” to the statement.

Meanwhile, analysts see the US embassy’s muted tone on the Delhi terror blast as a sign of diplomatic hesitation, possibly reflecting Washington’s reluctance to take a stronger position against Pakistan in public.

“This inconsistency not only undermines America’s credibility on terrorism but also sends a wrong message to its partners in South Asia,” a retired Indian diplomat told reporters.

As investigations into the Red Fort explosion continue, the online outrage over the US embassy’s differing responses underscores how global narratives on terrorism remain politically loaded — and often reveal more about diplomatic priorities than about empathy for victims.