On Thursday, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he had called up US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Jaishankar emphasized the need to bring the perpetrators and masterminds of the attack to justice.
Jaishankar tweeted on X in the morning, "Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US@SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.".
This was stated following a conversation between Rubio, Jaishankar, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday. The meeting took place amidst escalated tensions between India and Pakistan following the brutal killings of 26 individuals by terrorists in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Rubio asked leaders of the two countries to take action to reduce tensions and keep peace and security in South Asia. He reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperate with India on combating terrorism and asked for Pakistan's cooperation in probing the "unconscionable" terror attack in Kashmir. He also asked for condemning such an act.
Earlier, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the details of the call between Jaishankar and Rubio. She reported that Secretary Rubio "expressed his regret over the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack at Pahalgam and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism."
Bruce added that Rubio "also encouraged India to join Pakistan in an effort to decrease tensions and bring peace and security to South Asia." She added that the Secretary appealed for Pakistani cooperation to probe the attack and for efforts toward re-establishing direct lines of communication between the two nations to relieve tension and promote regional stability.
The two leaders reiterated their joint determination to take terrorists to book for their crimes. Bruce also mentioned Rubio's call for Pakistan to assist in the investigation and broker peace between India and Pakistan.
India has accused Pakistan after The Resistance Front (TRF), which has its links with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a further twist, on Thursday, Pakistan's military forces renewed their cross-Line of Control (LoC) hostilities with unprovoked firing across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir for the seventh consecutive day. Authorities informed that Pakistani soldiers initiated small-arms firing at Indian posts in the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor sectors at night between April 30 and May 1. The Indian Army responded appropriately to such aggression.
Pakistan has been engaged in unprovoked firing on the LoC for seven consecutive days. On Wednesday, Pakistani Rangers also opened small arms fire on Indian posts along the International Border in the Pargwal sector of Jammu district.
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