WASHINGTON: On Wednesday (Apr 30), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on India and Pakistan to collaborate in reducing tensions following an Islamist militant attack in India-administered Kashmir that resulted in 26 fatalities, according to the State Department.
Rubio spoke individually with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, showing his support for India in its fight against extremism and encouraging Pakistan to assist in the investigation of the attack, as stated by the State Department following Rubio’s discussions.
These calls represent the highest level of known diplomatic efforts from Washington aimed at easing India-Pakistan tensions since the April 22 incident.
India is a crucial US ally in countering China’s increasing power, while Pakistan still remains a partner for Washington, even if its significance has waned since the US pullout from neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.
After the talks, the State Department labeled the Kashmir attack as “terrorism” and “unconscionable,” noting that Rubio emphasized to Pakistan the importance of condemning the act.
Rubio urged Pakistani officials to work together in the investigation of this “unconscionable attack,” according to the State Department. In response, Sharif’s office indicated he requested Rubio to encourage India to “reduce the heated rhetoric.”
Rubio stressed the need for the nuclear-armed neighbors in Asia to engage with each other “to ease tensions, restore direct communication, and uphold peace.”
