US, Saudi top diplomats take up Pakistan-India tensions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during which the two officials exchanged views on a number of urgent regional issues, ranging from security coordination, economic relations, and the efforts to alleviate tensions between India and Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by the US State Department, during the call Secretary Rubio welcomed Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts in advocating for peace in several conflict-hit regions. He singled out Riyadh’s efforts in stabilizing Syria, its participation in addressing the current Sudan crisis, and its ongoing diplomatic intervention in Lebanon and the Red Sea area.

The discussion also highlighted the significance of the longstanding partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral cooperation ahead of US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to the Kingdom, emphasizing the importance of strategic dialogue between the two countries.

In a series of previous communications, Secretary Rubio also contacted top officials in South Asia. He made individual phone calls to India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Pakistan’s National Security Adviser, Lt General Muhammad Asim Malik. The calls came after a dramatic increase in the region, which involved airstrikes by the Indian Air Force on Pakistani territory.

The US State Department reported that Rubio urged both sides to prioritize diplomacy and avoid further escalation. He underscored the need to maintain open lines of communication and to exercise restraint to avert further deterioration of the situation.

While tensions within the region persist to intensify, Washington seems to be accelerating its diplomatic engagement in a bid to decrease the danger of warfare and support its alliances with most prominent stakeholders within the Middle East and South Asia.