Washington/New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) The US has reached out to both India and Pakistan calling for the de-escalation of tensions and to maintain peace and security in South Asia, even as New Delhi has conveyed firmly that the perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack “must be brought to justice”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and “expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism”.
“He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia”, the State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
EAM Jaishankar, in a post on X, said:
“Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday.
“Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.”
The US Secretary of State also spoke with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif.
“The Secretary spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam. Both leaders reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence.
“The Secretary urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating this unconscionable attack.
“He also encouraged Pakistan to work with India to de-escalate tensions, re-establish direct communications, and maintain peace and security in South Asia.”
Notably, as part of its measures against Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack, India late last night issued a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) and closed its airspace for Pakistan-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, airlines, and military flights. No Pakistani aircraft will be allowed to enter Indian air space with effect from April 30 to May 23, 2025.
The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which Islamist gunmen with handlers based in Pakistan, brutally slaughtered 26 tourists, has sharply escalated tensions between the two neighbours.
India has vowed to pursue and bring to justice the perpetrators of the attack, and massively downsized its diplomatic ties with Pakistan, — suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting the Attari land border, asking all Pakistani nationals to leave, thinning the diplomatic staff at the Pakistan HC and its own in Islamabad.
