Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to speak with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging both sides to avoid escalation.
"We are reaching out to both parties and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Rubio’s calls are expected to take place "as early as today or tomorrow," Bruce confirmed, adding that the secretary is also encouraging other global leaders to engage both New Delhi and Islamabad to promote restraint and dialogue.
The Pahalgam incident has further strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with diplomatic and public reactions intensifying in recent days. The US has reiterated its commitment to regional stability and stressed the importance of de-escalation.
This outreach comes as part of Washington's broader effort to prevent further deterioration in South Asia, a region already fraught with historical tensions and recent unrest.
