U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was working the phones yesterday, addressing the India-Pakistan crisis. In a phone call with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rubio “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 terrorism,” reported the State Department readout. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia.
Rubio also spoke with Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. “The Secretary spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam. Both leaders reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence,” the State Department said. “The Secretary urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating this unconscionable attack. He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.”
According to the Pakistani side, Shehbaz Sharif urged Rubio to make India understand that it should step back in its rhetoric and exhibit responsibility amid intense tensions between the two countries in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. A statement issued from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office later today said the premier received a telephone call from Rubio in the evening, in which Shehbaz Sharif “urged the U.S. to impress upon India to dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly,” according to an AP report published in the Dawn. “Terming India’s escalatory and provocative behaviour as deeply disappointing and worrisome, the prime minister said that India’s provocations would only serve to distract Pakistan from its ongoing efforts to defeat terrorism, particularly from militant groups, including ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province), TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) and BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) operating from Afghan soil,” it added.
According to the statement, Shehbaz Sharif “categorically rejected” India’s attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident, highlighting his call for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation to bring out the facts.
From the Indian side, Jaishankar reported on X only that he had “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.”
