US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Rubio asked the leaders of both countries to work to de-escalate tensions between them.
During his conversation with Jaishankar, Rubio expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the victims and their families in the Pahalgam attack, according to US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. He reaffirmed the US’s commitment to working with India in the global fight against terrorism.
In a tweet on Thursday morning, Jaishankar said he discussed the Pahalgam attack with Rubio.
“Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice,” he said.
Additionally, Rubio encouraged both India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue aimed at de-escalating regional tensions and promoting peace and stability in South Asia, Bruce said in a statement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today. The Secretary expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against…
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
Rubio also discussed the situation with Sharif, who, according to a press release from the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office, briefed him on Pakistan’s perspective regarding recent developments in South Asia.
Today, Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia: US State Department spokesperson Tammy…
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
During the conversation, Sharif accused India of engaging in “escalatory and provocative behaviour”, amid growing concerns over a potential escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. “India’s provocations would only serve to distract Pakistan from its ongoing efforts to defeat terrorism, particularly from terror groups,” news agency AFP quoted Sharif as saying.
Sharif also rejected India’s attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack and reiterated Islamabad’s demand for an impartial investigation into the terror attack. He urged the US to encourage India to avoid making “inflammatory statements” that could further heighten tensions.
The development came shortly after Bruce said at a Tuesday press briefing that Washington was engaging with both India and Pakistan regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and urged both sides to avoid escalation.
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