WASHINGTON: US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his conversation with the leaders of Pakistan and India, has emphasised the need for de-escalation between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.
At a press briefing on Thursday, the spokesperson said Secretary Robio, during separate conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, emphasised his support for direct dialogue.
To a question, Bruce said the tension between India and Pakistan should not escalate.
“The terrorist attack was not surprising and was very disappointing. Certainly, it should not escalate and there should be talks, there should be no silence,” she said.
The spokesperson said America has been speaking with leaders of the two countries over the last two days. “It is a very delicate and dangerous situation,” she said.
Tammy Bruce added that in any case where there is a diplomatic conversation between leaders of the countries, we are not going to speak about the details, it is our policy. “We think it is important not to put details in the media when the work is being done privately,” she said.
“We continue to urge India and Pakistan to work towards a responsible solution. We are engaged with both governments at multiple levels,” said the spokesperson.
She said Pakistan wants an independent investigation of the attack, and we also want the perpetrators to be held accountable.
“Violence should stop; military action is not the solution because it never ends. Diplomacy is the only solution to solve issues,” she said.
UN Chief reiterates de-escalation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday pressed with his call to Pakistan and India to de-escalate amid rising tensions between the two countries.
“Our comment is the same as what we’ve been saying and what the Secretary-General made clear to you at the start of this week — that the world cannot afford another conflict between Pakistan and India,” Farhan Aziz Haq, the UN deputy spokesperson, said in response to a question about the situation between Pakistan and India at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
He (the UN chief) has offered his good offices, but certainly, we encourage all efforts to de-escalate the situation and encourage both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint,” Farhan Haq added.
India’s attack kills 31 Pakistani civilians
Late on Tuesday, India launched air strikes targeting different cities in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
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.
