Rubio to call Pakistan and India FMs, urge not to 'escalate'
State Department says US is in touch with governments of Pakistan and India
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will urge his Indian and Pakistani counterparts not to escalate, his spokeswoman said Tuesday, as tensions soar between the arch-rivals after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
"We are reaching out to both parties and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters.
"The secretary expects to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow," she said.
"He is encouraging other national leaders, other foreign ministers, to also reach out to the countries on this issue," she said.
The United States, which has close ties with India, initially had voiced solidarity after the April 22 attack in which gunmen killed 26 men in the tourism hub of Pahalgam.
Rubio's focus on diplomacy comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the army would enjoy "operational freedom" to respond to the attack.
The US is closely monitoring the developments and is in touch with the governments of both India and Pakistan amid tensions between the two neighbouring countries, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
She also said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will speak with the foreign ministers of both countries "as early as today or tomorrow."
"The Secretary of State will speak with the foreign ministers of both countries. We're also monitoring the developments across the board in that region, and we, as you know, are at multiple levels in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan," Bruce said at the US State Department briefing on Wednesday.
"Not just at the Foreign Minister level, certainly, but at multiple levels. We, of course, are encouraging all parties to work together for a responsible solution. The world is watching this, but I have no additional details in that regard," she added.
Further, she said Secretary of State Rubio has asked the two countries "not to escalate the situation",
"Rubio said we are reaching out to both parties and telling them not to escalate the situation. The secretary expects to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow. He (Rubio) is encouraging other national leaders and foreign ministers to reach out to the countries on this issue," she added.
Further, Bruce added that "every day action is being taken" In this case, the secretary is speaking directly to his counterparts in India and Pakistan.