Washington (Web Desk): Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, the United States (US) has stepped in to ease the situation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to engage directly with both countries' foreign ministers in an effort to prevent further deterioration.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized Washington's focus on diplomatic engagement.
She noted that the US is actively communicating with both governments, urging calm and restraint in the face of mounting hostility.
“We are reaching out to both parties and urging them to avoid any moves that could escalate tensions,” Bruce said.
She highlighted Secretary Rubio’s firm belief that diplomacy should lead the response and mentioned that he has been encouraging other global leaders and foreign ministers to do the same by contacting both Islamabad and New Delhi to help defuse the situation.
This diplomatic push comes in the wake of a devastating incident that took place on April 22 in Pahalgam, a region situated in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, most of them tourists, marking it as one of the most lethal acts of violence in the region in over two decades.
In response, India announced on April 23 that it was suspending its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a long-standing water-sharing pact originally brokered by the World Bank that has withstood multiple wars and periods of heightened conflict.
Reacting swiftly, Pakistan responded the following day by indicating it could suspend the 1972 Simla Agreement, a foundational diplomatic accord between the two nations, and announced the possibility of closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. India, while stopping short of issuing a formal accusation, suggested there may have been cross-border support linked to the attack.
Pakistan, however, categorically rejected these claims, firmly denying any involvement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has since called for an impartial, international inquiry into the incident to establish the facts, stating that speculation and blame would only worsen the already fragile situation.
On Tuesday evening, Pakistan’s Information Minister Atta Tarar delivered a stern warning, stating that credible intelligence pointed to a possible Indian military strike within the next day or so, using the Pahalgam attack as a justification.
Tarar criticized New Delhi's posture, accusing it of acting unilaterally and irresponsibly, assuming the roles of accuser, judge, and enforcer all at once—a stance Islamabad views as dangerous and destabilizing.
In his remarks, the minister also reiterated that Pakistan has itself endured a heavy toll from terrorism and understands the suffering such violence brings.
He called once again for restraint, dialogue, and a commitment to peace in a region that cannot afford another conflict.