US calls on India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions

The U.S. urged India and Pakistan to reduce tensions and prioritize regional stability following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged India and Pakistan to prioritize regional stability and reduce tensions following a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. In separate phone calls with the leaders of both nations, the U.S. emphasized dialogue and cooperation over confrontation.

According to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, stressing the importance of accountability in response to violent actions. He also urged Islamabad to support a transparent investigation into the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Rubio also held a separate call with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, during which he expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reiterated Washington’s commitment to work with New Delhi in combating terrorism in the region.

The statement noted that Rubio encouraged India to engage constructively with Pakistan to de-escalate hostilities and uphold peace and security in South Asia. The United States emphasized the role of diplomacy in preventing further conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people and injured 17, has sharply escalated tensions. India accused Pakistan of backing the militant group “The Resistance Front,” linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a charge Islamabad denied, calling instead for an impartial probe.

Following the incident, India suspended visas for Pakistani nationals, closed border crossings, and threatened to cut water flow from the Indus River. In retaliation, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian flights, severed trade ties, and labeled India’s water move a “war act.”

As border skirmishes broke out on April 25 and anti-India protests erupted in Islamabad, international observers, including the United Nations, voiced alarm over the rising risk of military conflict. Both nations possess nuclear capabilities, heightening global concerns.

The United States has reiterated its call for calm and diplomatic engagement, warning that further escalation would jeopardize regional and international peace. Analysts stress that both India and Pakistan must resist provocation and return to bilateral dialogue to resolve outstanding disputes.

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