In call with Shehbaz Sharif, Marco Rubio asked Pakistan to condemn Kashmir attack, cooperate
The United States on Wednesday asked Pakistan to condemn the Pahalgam terror attack. In a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio “spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce was quoted as saying.
Rubio “urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in investigating this unconscionable attack,” she said in a statement.
Rubio also held talks with EAM S Jaishankar and expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperate with India against terrorism.
Both India and Pakistan have blocked each other’s airlines from using their airspace.
The talks came as there has been a rise in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army’s unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC.
S Jaishankar on talks with Marco Rubio
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said he discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with Rubio and called for justice for those responsible.
“Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice,” Jaishankar wrote on X (formerly Twitter)
Pahalgam terror attack
On April 22, terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, mostly tourists, and injured many others.
On April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also present at the meeting.
The meeting took place days after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 23, following the terror attack in Pahalgam.
Government sources said PM Modi affirmed that it is India’s national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism.
