US urges India and Pakistan to work with each other to reduce tensions
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The US expressed support for India in combating extremism and urged Pakistan to cooperate in investigating the attack.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 30 urged India and Pakistan to work with each other to de-escalate tensions after last week’s Islamist militant attack in India-administered Kashmir
Mr Rubio spoke separately with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while expressing support for India in combating extremism and urging Pakistan to cooperate in investigating the attack, the State Department said after Mr Rubio’s calls.
The calls on April 30 mark the highest levels of publicly known simultaneous diplomatic engagements from Washington aimed at reducing India-Pakistan tensions since the April 22 attack.
India is an important US partner to counter China’s rising influence.
Pakistan remains Washington’s ally, even as its importance diminished after the 2021 US withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan.
State Department statements after the calls termed the Kashmir attack as “terror” and “unconscionable”, and said Mr Rubio spoke to Pakistan “of the need to condemn” it.
Mr Rubio “urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating this unconscionable attack”, the State Department said.
Mr Sharif’s office said he asked Mr Rubio to urge India “to dial down the rhetoric”.
Mr Rubio urged the Asian nuclear-armed neighbours to work with each other “to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace”.
Washington urged other countries to help reduce tensions while asking India and Pakistan to work on a “responsible solution”.
Washington has condemned the attack without criticising Pakistan.
India blamed Pakistan, which denied responsibility, calling for a neutral probe.
Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan – each controls only part of it and both countries have fought wars over it.
After the attack, India suspended a treaty regulating water-sharing, and both countries closed their airspace to each other’s airlines.
They also exchanged fire across their border.
Hindu nationalist Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to punish those responsible.
Pakistan says military action by India was imminent. REUTERS
