U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on India and Pakistan to reduce tensions following the April 22, 2025, militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which killed over two dozen people, the State Department announced on May 1, 2025.
In a phone calls with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rubio condemned the attack and urged cooperation in its investigation, emphasising the need for dialogue to promote peace in South Asia, according to spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
#BREAKING || US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dials EAM Jaishankar and Pakistan PM, urges de-escalation of tensions.
Marco Rubio also condemned the Pahalgam attack.@anchoramitaw & @srinjoyc1 share the latest details.#PahalgamTerrorAttack #Pakistan #US pic.twitter.com/ItggJKDNXM
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 1, 2025Prime Minister Sharif, in a statement from his office, rejected India’s unverified claims linking Pakistan to the attack, calling for a “transparent, credible, and neutral” probe. He highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in combating terrorism, with over 90,000 lives lost and $152 billion in economic damages, and criticized India’s “escalatory” actions, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.
Sharif urged the U.S. to press India to de-escalate and respect water rights vital for 240 million Pakistanis, stressing that resolving the Kashmir dispute is key to lasting peace.
Read: Tarar Warns of India’s Potential Military Action in Next 24-36 hours
Rubio expressed sorrow for the Pahalgam victims in his call with Jaishankar, reaffirming U.S.-India counterterrorism cooperation while encouraging de-escalation with Pakistan, Bruce said. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to holding terrorists accountable.
The discussions underscore global concerns over rising India-Pakistan tensions, with no evidence yet substantiating either side’s claims.
