US to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan

The United States has called on both India and Pakistan to de-escalate their current tensions following a deadly attack in Occupied Kashmir. America’s top diplomat is expected to be in touch with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts soon.

“We are reaching out to both parties and telling them not to escalate the situation,” said Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US Department of State, in a statement to foreign media on Tuesday.

She mentioned that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to discuss the issue with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan “as early as today or tomorrow.”

Bruce also stated that Rubio is encouraging “other national leaders and foreign ministers to reach out to the countries on this issue.”

The United States expressed solidarity following the April 22 attack in India-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, where gunmen killed 26 men. Tensions between the nuclear rivals have since been escalating.

On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the army would have “operational freedom” to respond to the attack.

Modi held a closed-door meeting with army and security chiefs, during which he assured the armed forces of “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of our response to the terror attack,” according to AFP news agency.

India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a charge Pakistan denies, calling for an international investigation. In response, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement, which Islamabad has condemned.

Pakistan has announced retaliatory measures, including closing its airspace to Indian airlines and suspending the Simla Agreement.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres separately spoke with Pakistani and Indian officials.

“The Secretary-General spoke today by telephone with H.E. Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and H.E. Mr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India,” according to a statement by Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

China and Turkey have called for immediate de-escalation. Iran has offered to mediate, and Saudi Arabia stated it is trying to “prevent an escalation.”

US President Donald Trump downplayed tensions, stating on Friday that the Kashmir dispute is over 1,000 years old and that leaders of both sides will “figure out, one way or another,” how to lower tensions.

Bruce emphasized that the US is taking daily actions in this case and expects “impact” from Rubio’s interactions with his South Asian counterparts.

“We are also monitoring the developments across the board in that region, and we, as you know, at multiple levels, are in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan,” Bruce added. “We are encouraging all parties to work together for a responsible solution. The world is watching this.”