In call to Gen Asim Munir, US top diplomat urges de-escalation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Army Chief General Asim Munir and urged both Pakistan and India to find ways to de-escalate, a US Department Of State spokesperson said, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

Rubio also offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts, the spokesperson said.

According to the State Department statement cited by Reuters, the conversation took place on Saturday, with attacks from both India and Pakistan intensifying.

“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir earlier today,” the US Department of State said.

Rubio emphasized the urgent need for both nations to pursue diplomatic avenues to de-escalate the situation. He reiterated Washington's willingness to assist in facilitating constructive dialogue to prevent further conflict in the region.

Calls to foreign ministers

Marco Rubio urged India and Pakistan to restore direct communication to "avoid miscalculation" in a series of calls as the conflict neared all-out war, the State Department said early Saturday.

Rubio placed telephone calls to the rivals' top diplomats and, for the first known time since the conflict erupted, also spoke with Pakistan's army chief, considered the country's key powerbroker.

In the separate calls with the foreign ministers, Rubio "emphasized that both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

In the conversations with both foreign ministers and with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, Rubio also "offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts," Bruce said.

Ishaq Dar spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on telephone and discussed the current situation in South Asia following Indian attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan’s response.

According to a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders agreed to maintain close contact.

The calls came as Pakistan launched a massive retaliation destroying many Indian military sites within hours.

Rubio underscored that regional stability remains a top priority for the United States and encouraged restraint and continued communication between both governments.

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump said he wants to see the conflict between India and Pakistan de-escalate "as quickly as possible", the White House said.

The comments by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt came as military action between India and Pakistan intensified.

"The President has expressed he wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible. He understands these are two countries that have been at odds with one another for decades, long before President Trump was here in the Oval Office," Leavitt said.

"This is something that the Secretary of State and, of course, now our national security advisor as well, Marco Rubio, has been very much involved in," Leavitt added.

She was responding to a question about the US efforts to mediate or have an impact on the conflict between India and Pakistan.

She said Trump "has good relationships" with the leaders of both countries, and Rubio has been in "constant communication with the leaders of both countries", trying to bring this conflict to an end.

Earlier on Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance in a TV interview said, the US is not going to get involved in a war that's "fundamentally none of our business".