US Calls for Calm as India-Pakistan Tensions Rise After Deadly Kashmir Attack

The United States has urged India and Pakistan to ease rising tensions following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians 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, encouraging both nations to maintain peace and stability in the South Asian region, BBC reported. 

India has accused Pakistan of supporting the militants behind the attack, which occurred in a popular tourist area near Pahalgam. However, Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement. During his conversation with Rubio, Jaishankar emphasized that the "planners and perpetrators" must be brought to justice. Rubio also expressed sorrow for the loss of lives and reassured India's fight against terrorism.

In a separate call with Pakistan’s prime minister, Rubio urged Islamabad to assist in investigating the attack. Sharif rejected the accusations from India and requested that the United States press India to lower its aggressive rhetoric and handle the matter responsibly.

Following the attack, India has taken a series of strict measures. It closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, suspended most visas for Pakistani nationals, and revoked a key water-sharing agreement. Additionally, India banned several Pakistani news channels and blocked access to Instagram accounts of Pakistani celebrities, citing the spread of provocative content.

Pakistan responded with similar actions, cancelling visas for Indian citizens and suspending a 1972 peace treaty. The situation has led to hundreds of citizens from both sides returning to their respective countries.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to grow along the border, with Indian and Pakistani troops reportedly exchanging small-arms fire over the past few days. India accused Pakistan of multiple ceasefire violations during a routine military contact. Prime Minister Modi has held several high-level meetings with defense and state officials and reportedly gave the Indian military full freedom to choose the timing and method of response.

Indian police have identified three of the four suspected attackers, claiming two were Pakistani nationals and one was a local resident of Kashmir. While initial reports pointed to a group called the Resistance Front, the group has denied any role in the attack. The attack, which mainly targeted Hindu men, is being seen as the worst of its kind against civilians in Kashmir in the last 20 years.

Prime Minister Modi has vowed a strong response. He stated that India would identify, track, and punish those behind the attack in a way that would be "beyond their imagination," fueling further concerns of military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.