The United States has called on India and Pakistan to work together to de-escalate rising tensions following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead on April 22.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate phone calls with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, urging both nations to maintain peace and security in South Asia.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the militants behind the attack, which took place near the scenic town of Pahalgam. Islamabad has firmly denied the allegations.
In the wake of the incident, India has imposed several retaliatory measures, including the closure of its airspace to all Pakistani aircraft—both civilian and military—on Wednesday. The move comes amid a series of escalating actions taken by both countries.
Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, in a post on social media platform X following his conversation with Rubio, reaffirmed that the “perpetrators, backers and planners” of the Pahalgam attack “must be brought to justice.” Rubio, in turn, expressed condolences and reiterated US support for India’s fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, during his call with Prime Minister Sharif, Secretary Rubio condemned the attack and urged Pakistan to cooperate with the investigation. Sharif rejected what he described as “Indian attempts to link Pakistan to the incident” and called on Washington to encourage New Delhi to “dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly.”
Tensions have continued to rise, with Pakistan’s information minister warning of “credible intelligence” suggesting potential Indian military action within 24 to 36 hours. India has not commented on the claim.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held multiple high-level meetings with defence and security officials in recent days. According to Indian media citing unnamed sources, Modi has given the armed forces a “free hand” to determine the timing, targets, and method of response.
The conflict has also spilled into diplomatic and cultural spheres. India has suspended most visas for Pakistani nationals, canceled a key water-sharing agreement, and banned over a dozen Pakistani news channels for spreading provocative content. Pakistan has retaliated with similar visa suspensions and by revoking a 1972 peace accord with India.
Additionally, the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities have reportedly been blocked in India due to legal directives. Indian authorities have not officially commented on these actions.
The Pahalgam attack, considered the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in two decades, has sparked widespread outrage across India. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, Indian authorities initially suspected The Resistance Front, a group allegedly affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Resistance Front has since denied involvement.
Indian police have named three of the four suspected attackers—two identified as Pakistani nationals and one as a resident of Indian-administered Kashmir. Details on the fourth suspect remain unknown.
Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, both of whom claim the region in full but govern it in part. Armed insurgency and militant violence have plagued the region since 1989.
Prime Minister Modi, addressing the nation after the attack, vowed retribution: “India will identify, track, and punish those responsible in a way beyond their imagination.”
