WASHINGTON: The White House said on Friday that US President Donald Trump wants a quick de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and Indian, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in constant contact with the leaders of both countries as the nuclear-armed neighbours edge closer to war.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, speaking to reporters at a briefing, reiterated that US President Donald Trump wants to see the conflict de-escalate “as quickly as possible”.
The US is in “constant communication” with the leaders of Pakistan and India, the White House spokeswoman said.
“This is something that the secretary of state and, of course, now our national security adviser as well, Marco Rubio, has been very much involved in. The President has expressed he wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
“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. However, he has good relationships with the leaders of both countries and the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, I spoke to him just yesterday; he has been in constant communication with the leaders of both countries, trying to bring this conflict to an end,” she added.
India’s air strikes on Pakistan
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated this week after India launched unprovoked air strikes at nine locations in Pakistan late Tuesday night.
The Pakistani military said 31 people were killed in the Indian missile attacks and cross-border firing in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan promptly responded to the Indian attacks.
Pakistan claimed that its armed forces shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed a brigade headquarters and several military posts.
Pakistan’s armed forces also shot down and destroyed 77 Indian drones in the last two days, DG ISPR said. According to security sources, 29 Indian drones were shot down till last evening, while another 48 drones have been destroyed since last night.
The escalation began following the April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, killing 26 people.
India, without investigation or presenting any evidence, implied “cross-border linkages” of the attackers. Pakistan has firmly rejected the claim and called for a neutral and transparent international probe.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, said that the US is closely following the situation in South Asia.
Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Secretary Rubio urged both Pakistan and India to work together to de-escalate the situation, the statement said.
India brings nuclear-armed states to brink of war
Pakistan on Friday accused India of violating international law and endangering regional peace, stating that it was unfortunate that New Delhi’s “reckless conduct” had brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours dangerously close to a major conflict as tensions between Pakistan and India escalate.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan strongly condemned India’s aggression. He said Indian strikes targeted civilians, mosques, and damaged infrastructure, including the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project.
The Foreign Office spokesman’s statement comes amid the ongoing escalation between Pakistan and India, which started after New Delhi launched attacks in several Pakistani cities. Islamabad promptly responded to the attacks.
Pakistan claimed that its armed forces shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed a brigade headquarters and several military posts.
Pakistan’s armed forces also shot down and destroyed 77 Indian drones. According to security sources, 29 Indian drones were shot down till last evening, while another 48 drones have been destroyed since last night.
Pakistan’s military said India targeted six locations, and at least 31 civilians were killed and 57 others injured in the strikes and cross-border firing along the Line of Control.
The Pakistan armed forces shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, a combat drone, and destroyed brigade headquarters, including a number of check posts along the LoC, after New Delhi carried out missile strikes in cities of Punjab and AJK, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed.
In a press briefing, DG ISPR said Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Ahmedpur Sharqia Bagh and Muridke were hit by Indian missiles. The DG ISPR said that the “cowardly” act will not go unpunished.
In an interview with CNN, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Indian media has itself admitted the crash of three aircraft in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Indian strikes targeted civilians, including women and children, which is a blatant violation of international law,” the Defence Minister added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an address to the nation following India’s recent act of aggression, called it a “grave mistake” that will not go unpunished.
