- Secretary for State Marco Rubio Urges India-Pakistan De-escalation in Wake of Rising Tensions
New Delhi. 09 May 2025. In a renewed diplomatic outreach amid heightened regional tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The talks come in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed several lives and sparked concern across the region and among global stakeholders.
During his call with Dr. Jaishankar, Secretary Rubio offered heartfelt condolences for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed the United States’ strong support for India in its fight against terrorism. He emphasized the importance of restraint and called for immediate de-escalation between India and Pakistan. Secretary Rubio also reiterated U.S. encouragement for direct bilateral dialogue and improved communications between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
In a parallel conversation with Prime Minister Sharif, Secretary Rubio echoed similar calls for de-escalation. While expressing sorrow over reported civilian casualties on both sides, he urged Pakistan to take concrete steps to dismantle any support networks for terrorist groups operating from its territory—a long-standing point of contention in U.S.-Pakistan and India-Pakistan relations.
In recent times United States has played a balancing role in the complex India-Pakistan dynamic—often advocating for dialogue while simultaneously pushing Islamabad to crack down on terrorism and supporting India’s counter-terrorism efforts. Washington has increasingly aligned with India, particularly in defence and counterterrorism cooperation, though it maintains strategic engagement with Pakistan given its geopolitical importance in South Asia and Afghanistan.
