US urges India and Pakistan to ease tension

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on India and Pakistan to work together to ease tensions after last week’s militant attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the State Department said on Wednesday. 

Rubio spoke separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday. He also urged Pakistan to cooperate in investigating the attack that killed more than two dozen people, according to separate statements issued by the State Department after the calls. 

“The Secretary spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. 

“Both leaders reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence.”

The Secretary urged Pakistani officials to cooperate fully in investigating what he described as an unconscionable attack. He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to reduce tensions, restore direct communication, and promote peace and security in South Asia, Bruce added.