US urges India, Pakistan to avoid escalation

Washington

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged India and Pakistan to keep communication open and avoid further escalation in their ongoing tensions. Rubio spoke with the national security advisors of both nations on Tuesday and emphasized the importance of resolving issues peacefully. His comments came after India launched missile strikes on multiple sites in Pakistan in response to the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

The US Department of State issued a statement saying Rubio had “urged both to keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation.” Rubio also stated that he was closely monitoring the situation and hoped it would end quickly. His remarks echoed those of US President Donald Trump, who had earlier expressed hope for a swift de-escalation.

India’s military operation, called "Operation Sindoor," targeted nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were aimed at camps run by terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which have been linked to attacks in India. The Indian government confirmed that the strikes were focused and non-escalatory, not targeting military facilities.

The US continues to urge both nations to resolve their differences diplomatically to prevent any further military conflict, which could have serious consequences for regional stability.