Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative podcaster and close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead during an event at a Utah college on Wednesday. Kirk had discussed the rising tensions between India and Pakistan on his podcast months before his death.
Charlie Kirk on Operation Sindoor
In May, following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, Charlie Kirk uploaded a podcast titled “What the Heck is Going on in India!”. He warned that the two nations were “on the verge of war.”
Kirk accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists and called it a “sneaky actor.” At the same time, he said India, a largely Hindu-majority nation, was furious over the deadly attack.
Charlie Kirk on Nuclear Threat and US Role
Kirk reminded listeners that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. However, he said the principle of “mutually assured destruction” (MAD) meant a nuclear war was unlikely.
He made it clear 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. That is it. This is not our war… not our conflict to get involved in,” he said.
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Kirk also warned against Washington hawks pushing for US military involvement. He named John Bolton and Lindsey Graham, saying, “Enough of that. This is not our fight, this is not our region.”
Pahalgam Terror Attack and Retaliation
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists in the Baisaran Valley, near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, and killed 26 people. Based on the investigation, the attackers carried sophisticated weapons and wore camouflage.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen asked some victims for their names or religion before shooting them. Survivors also recalled that some were forced to recite Islamic verses at gunpoint before being executed.
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India responded with Operation Sindoor, carrying out air and missile strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Reports suggested nine sites were hit, with casualties and aircraft losses on both sides.
Trade, China, and Geopolitics
Kirk linked the conflict to global trade and China. He said Donald Trump suggested India might reduce tariffs on American goods. Kirk argued this could strengthen ties with the US while acting as a counterweight to China’s growing influence.
“This is a great test of whether or not every conflict is America’s problem,” Kirk said, adding that the US role should be limited to diplomacy and peace talks.
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