Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged both nations to immediately de-escalate. Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, emphasizing the need for both countries to work together to reduce tensions.

The call for de-escalation comes after a series of events that have heightened concerns in the region. Pakistan launched air strikes in border areas of Jammu, including Jammu airport, which prompted a response from the Indian Air Defence system. Indian forces intercepted eight missiles at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia sector. These actions were reportedly in retaliation to Operation Sindoor by the Indian Armed Forces, which targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Adding to the heightened alert, air raid sirens sounded across cities in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir. Complete blackouts were ordered in several regions, including Akhnoor, Kishtwar, Samba, and other areas of Jammu, as well as Amritsar, Jalandhar, Jaisalmer, and Gurdaspur in Punjab, along with Bikaner, Rajasthan. These measures were taken to protect civilian and military infrastructure.

Secretary Rubio also conveyed the United States' support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan, encouraging continued efforts to improve communications. He reiterated his condolences for the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to working with India in the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, Rubio asked Pakistan to end any support to terrorist groups.

In response to Rubio's call, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs. Sharif also conveyed Pakistan's strong condemnation of India's missile and drone strikes, which he said resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. He stressed that Pakistan reserves the right to act in self-defense, according to the UN Charter.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India's actions were a response to Pakistan's initial escalation on April 22nd and emphasized that India's response was restrained, directed towards non-civilian, non-military targets, and confined to terrorist camps. Misri asserted that any further action by Pakistan would be considered an escalation and would be responded to appropriately. He also clarified that India's intention has not been to escalate matters and that their response has been targeted, precise, controlled, and measured, with no military targets selected.