U.S. Calls for Calm as India-Pakistan Tensions Flare After Deadly Kashmir Attack
Washington is urging restraint and dialogue between India and Pakistan amid growing fears of a potential military confrontation following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The United States has called on both South Asian nuclear powers to take immediate steps to de-escalate rising tensions after a brutal assault last week in Kashmir left 26 civilians dead.
The attack, which took place near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam, has sparked a sharp diplomatic fallout and heightened fears of military retaliation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio held urgent, separate calls with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.
According to a State Department readout, Rubio stressed the “critical importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region,” while expressing condolences for the victims and reaffirming America’s stance against terrorism.
India has directly accused Pakistan of providing support to the militants responsible for the April 22 massacre — a claim Islamabad has flatly rejected as “baseless.” In response, New Delhi has taken a raft of retaliatory measures, including closing its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, suspending most Pakistani visas, and halting a key water-sharing treaty.
Jaishankar, writing on X (formerly Twitter), said the “perpetrators, backers, and planners” of the attack must be held accountable. Rubio reportedly expressed solidarity with India’s counter-terrorism efforts and emphasized the need for justice.
In his conversation with Prime Minister Sharif, the US secretary also condemned the attack and urged Pakistan’s cooperation in investigating what he described as “an unconscionable act.” Sharif, for his part, rejected Indian attempts to link Islamabad to the violence and urged Washington to rein in New Delhi’s rhetoric.
Tensions were further inflamed by Pakistani warnings of “credible intelligence” suggesting imminent Indian military action — a claim India has yet to publicly address. In recent days, India’s armed forces have reportedly been placed on high alert, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi authorizing senior commanders to determine the timing and nature of any potential response.
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Modi, has met twice since the incident, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Small-arms fire has been exchanged across the Line of Control in recent days, signaling a potential unraveling of the 2021 ceasefire agreement.
As tit-for-tat measures continue, both sides have engaged in reciprocal expulsions of citizens, suspended long-standing agreements, and launched digital crackdowns — including the reported blocking of Pakistani celebrity social media accounts in India.
Analysts warn that with both governments facing domestic political pressure and a history of volatile flare-ups, the situation could quickly spiral unless mediated through diplomacy.
The US has reiterated its commitment to fostering dialogue, with Rubio urging both countries to “avoid further escalation and resolve differences through peaceful means.”
