- Saturday, May 10, 2025
The US secretary of state also had a word with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and offered assistance in starting constructive talks
By: India Weekly
AMID a tense situation between India and Pakistan, the US has said both countries need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation.
It has also expressed a willingness to “support” in facilitating “productive discussions” to avert future disputes.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke separately with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement in Washington Saturday (10).
The launch of India’s Operation Sindoor early Wednesday (7) and Pakistan’s subsequent unsuccessful attempt to attack 15 Indian cities have raised the temperatures on both sides.
In his call with Jaishankar, Rubio said, “both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation.”
He offered US support in facilitating “productive discussions to avert future disputes.”
In his social media post, Jaishankar wrote, “Had a conversation with US @SecRubio this morning. India’s approach has always been measured and responsible and remains so.”
In his conversation with Dar, Rubio reiterated that “both parties must find ways to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation.”
Rubio also offered “US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts.”
Dar later told local television that if India stops here, then “we will consider to stop here”.
Earlier, Rubio had spoken with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and offered US assistance in starting constructive talks.
Rubio had previously spoken with Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Indian media reported that Indian and Pakistani officials had spoken on Saturday (10).
Earlier, former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif had said that efforts are being made to strengthen back-channel contacts to defuse tension with New Delhi.
On Friday, the White House said US president Donald Trump wants to see the conflict between India and Pakistan de-escalate “as quickly as possible.”
“He understands these are two countries that have been at odds with one another for decades, long before president Trump was here in the Oval Office,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Leavitt said Rubio has been involved in reducing the tensions between the two countries.
China on Saturday (10) strongly urged India and Pakistan to exercise calm and restraint and return to the track of peaceful settlement.
A Chinese foreign ministry statement said it is closely following the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan, and urged both countries to “refrain from any action that could further escalate tensions”.
Since the Pahalgam terrorist attack, China, while condemning it, has called for restraint, besides a fair and swift investigation into the attack.
Pakistan early Saturday (10) claimed that its three air bases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones.
Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told a hurriedly called press conference in Islamabad at around 4 am that Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) air bases of Pakistan Air Force were targeted.
“But all assets of the Air Force remain safe,” he said.
India fired air-to-surface missiles with its jets, he claimed, and added that several missiles were intercepted by Pakistan’s air defense system.
Chaudhry did not take any questions and ended the presser abruptly.
Pakistan launched drone attacks targeting 26 locations in India – from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat – for the second night on Friday.
According to officials, the security forces thwarted multiple drone attacks launched by Pakistan in Punjab’s Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka and Amritsar districts.
In Ferozepur, three members of a family were injured on Friday night after a crashing projectile from a Pakistani drone destroyed by the Indian air defence system landed at their house at Khai Pheme Ke village, setting the structure and a car on fire. (PTI)
