U.S. Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, urging de-escalation amid heightened tensions with India.
According to U.S. Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Rubio offered U.S. assistance to facilitate “constructive” talks between the nuclear-armed neighbours to prevent further conflict, emphasising diplomacy over intervention.
Rubio’s call follows his earlier discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he stressed the need for both nations to reduce hostilities. He reiterated U.S. calls for Pakistan to end any support for terrorist groups, a point raised in response to India’s allegations following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. U.S. President Donald Trump also encouraged de-escalation, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting, “The President wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible.”
U.S. Secretary Rubio urged Pakistan’s Gen. Munir to de-escalate tensions with India, offering diplomatic support for talks.
Despite urging de-escalation, the U.S. has ruled out direct involvement in the conflict. Vice President JD Vance, a proponent of U.S. disengagement from international conflicts, stated, “We’re not going to get involved in the middle of a war that’s fundamentally none of our business.” He emphasised that the U.S. cannot dictate terms to India or Pakistan but will pursue diplomacy to encourage restraint, reflecting America’s cautious approach to the volatile situation.
Read: Pakistan Launches Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos in Retaliation to Indian Airstrikes
The India-Pakistan conflict escalated after India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting alleged terrorist sites in Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. Pakistan denies involvement and launched Operation Bunyaan al Marsoos on May 10, striking Indian military sites. The U.S. calls for de-escalation amid reports of Pakistani drone strikes and Indian airstrikes, raising fears of a broader regional crisis.
The U.S. diplomatic push, led by Rubio, highlights the global stakes of the India-Pakistan conflict, given both nations’ nuclear capabilities.