Image Credit: X account @SecRubio
U.S. Urges Pakistan to Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack
Amid escalating tensions in South Asia following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the United States has called upon Pakistan to issue a clear and unequivocal condemnation of the violence. The April 22 attack, which left 26 civilians dead in Jammu and Kashmir, has intensified diplomatic concerns globally, prompting the U.S. to intervene with an appeal for de-escalation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Expressing his condolences to the victims’ families, Rubio stressed that Pakistan must “unequivocally condemn the heinous Pahalgam attack” and offer full cooperation in investigations to ensure accountability for what he termed an “unconscionable act.”
The aftermath of the attack has seen a sharp deterioration in India-Pakistan relations. India responded by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, and revoking visas for Pakistani nationals. Pakistan, in turn, shut down its airspace to Indian flights and increased its military readiness along the Line of Control.
U.S. Pushes for De-escalation
Calling for restraint, the U.S. has urged both countries to reopen diplomatic channels and engage in dialogue to prevent further confrontation. American officials reiterated the importance of regional stability and emphasized that continued conflict would benefit neither side.
Beyond the U.S., a chorus of voices from the international community has called for calm. Nations including China, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have appealed for dialogue and offered to assist in mediation efforts to avoid a further breakdown in regional peace.
As both nuclear-armed nations maintain hardened stances, the global spotlight remains firmly fixed on South Asia. The diplomatic pressure now builds on Pakistan to publicly denounce the Pahalgam attack—something that could influence the trajectory of the already fragile India-Pakistan relationship. The world waits to see whether diplomacy will prevail or whether the region edges closer to another crisis.
