Rubio calls for de-escalation between India and Pakistan amid rising tensions.
Islamabad is actively seeking assistance from the United States to alleviate rising tensions with New Delhi in the wake of a recent attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized the importance of collaboration between India and Pakistan, calling for both nations to engage in constructive dialogue to de-escalate the situation, as reported by ZezapTV.
In separate discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rubio reiterated US support for India in its fight against terrorism while urging Pakistan to partake in a thorough investigation of the recent attack, which resulted in the tragic loss of 26 lives among tourists in Kashmir.
According to a statement from Sharif’s office, the Prime Minister requested that the United States encourage India to moderate its rhetoric and act with responsibility. He expressed concern regarding India’s recent actions that seem to undermine the longstanding Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of river flows in the disputed Kashmir region. This treaty stipulates against unilateral actions, a commitment that is crucial for regional stability.
The call for US intervention follows Pakistan’s disclosure of “credible intelligence” suggesting that India may be contemplating an imminent offensive within the next 24 to 36 hours as retaliation for the recent violence. This statement underscores the heightened anxieties on both sides, particularly as tensions have recently escalated to levels not seen since a tragic car bombing in 2019.
In response to the growing hostilities, India has initiated travel restrictions, shutting its airspace to Pakistani airlines, following Islamabad’s earlier ban on Indian flights operating over its territory. This reciprocal measure reflects the ongoing strife and underscores the fragile state of relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Both Indian and Pakistani military forces have reportedly been engaging in exchanges of fire over the last several nights, although no casualties have been confirmed. India alleges that Pakistan has been supporting armed factions in Kashmir, a territory that both nations claim in its entirety. In contrast, Islamabad maintains that it offers only moral and diplomatic backing for the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.
International leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have called for restraint and emphasized the necessity for dialogue to prevent the situation from escalating into a confrontation with dire outcomes. Similarly, the British government has urged its citizens to avoid travel to the Jammu and Kashmir region, advising continued caution amidst the ongoing tensions.
As calls for diplomacy and peace persist, the broader implications for South Asia, particularly in fostering regional cooperation and discourse, continue to be of paramount importance.
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