Marco Rubio Urges Pakistan, India to De-Escalate Tensions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for immediate de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan following India's launch of Operation Sindoor in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Rubio emphasized the need for direct dialogue between the two countries and urged Pakistan to end support for terrorist groups, expressing sorrow over the reported civilian casualties. In separate calls with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio reaffirmed US commitment to combating terrorism alongside India and encouraged Pakistan to reduce tensions. Pakistan's Prime Minister Sharif accused India of violating Pakistan's sovereignty and vowed to defend the country’s territorial integrity. Meanwhile, India rejected Pakistan's claim of downing Indian jets and criticized Pakistan for honoring terrorists with state funerals. The US continues to closely monitor the situation and stresses cooperation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors to maintain regional peace and stability.