九一一事件後，同時與印度與巴基斯坦這兩個南亞地區的主要國家發展合作關係，是美國反恐戰略中的重要戰略目標。面對兩國因二○○一年十月一日及十二月十三日連續兩起議會爆炸案件所引發的緊張事態，美國自然深表關切。 二○○二年的印巴衝突是兩國在二十一世紀的第一次雙邊對峙，在這一場持續長達十個月的衝突過程中，印巴兩國曾兩度瀕臨戰爭邊緣。喀什米爾極端主義則再度成為兩國間既深且持續的歧見所在。本文關切的焦點是第三方美國在這次衝突中的角色，其結論為：美國致力於扮演一個「友人」的角色，一個南亞所有國家的好友的角色。

　　　　　Since "September 11," the United States has a strategic counter-terrorism objective to collaborate with the two major countries in South Asia-India and Pakistan. Therefore, the United States has been deeply concerned with the lndo-Pakistan tension in 2002 which was caused by two barbaric attacks in India on October 1 and December 13, 2001. The Indo-Pakistan tension in 2002 lasted for l0 months and was their first conflict in the 21st century. The possibility of war between India and Pakistan occurred twice, making war a real possibility. The force of extremists sought to exploit the deep and long-standing differences between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. The subject of this paper focuses on the role of the United States as the third party in this conflict. In conclusion, the United States attempted to play the role of a friend, extending its goodwill to all South Asian nations.