New Delhi: India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made it clear to his American counterpart Marco Rubio that New Delhi will “counter any attempts at escalation” by Pakistan, during a call Thursday.
Rubio, the US Secretary of State, on his part, emphasised the need for “immediate de-escalation”, following the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
In a statement on the social media platform ‘X’, Jaishankar deeply appreciated the US’ “commitment” to work with India in the “fight against terrorism” while underlining New Delhi’s “targeted and measured” response to cross-border terrorism.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce released a statement saying that Rubio had emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation.
“Secretary Marco Rubio spoke today with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Secretary emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation. He expressed U.S. support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,” Bruce said in the statement.
“The Secretary reiterated his condolences for the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism,” Bruce added.
This is the second call between Rubio and the Indian leadership in as many days. On Wednesday the US Secretary of State, who is also the interim National Security Advisor (NSA), had a call with India’s NSA Ajit Doval. Sources in the government said that Doval briefed Rubio of India’s Operation Sindoor.
Launched in the early hours of Wednesday, Operation Sindoor targeted nine terrorist complexes across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This operation targeting terrorist complexes occurred two weeks after terrorists killed 26 tourists, including 25 Indians and one foreign national, in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
On Wednesday, Rubio had spoken with Pakistan NSA Asim Malik and urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to avoid escalation. However, in the early hours of Thursday, Pakistan launched missiles and drones at 15 Indian military facilities, which led to New Delhi retaliating in the “same domain” with the “same intensity”, according to the Ministry of Defence. An air defence system in Lahore was neutralized.
Late Thursday evening, Pakistan targeted Jammu city with loitering munitions. Multiple explosions were reported across the city, as reported by ThePrint. The airport was targeted, while at least six other explosions rocked the city.
Other cities targeted by Pakistan Thursday evening included Srinagar, Udhampur, Pathankot, Jaisalmer, Samba and some other cities in Rajasthan. A blackout has been enforced in Chandigarh, Mohali, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar made it clear that any military attack from Pakistan will be met with a “very, very firm” response from India.
The Indian External Affairs Minister also spoke to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas Thursday evening
“Discussed ongoing developments with EU HRVP @kajakallas . India has been measured in its actions. However, any escalation will get a firm response,” Jaishankar said in a statement posted on ‘X’.
The EU has condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack and said in a statement that “every state has the duty and the right lawfully to protect its citizens from acts of terror.”
(Edited by Tony Rai)